What MSX? (GB)

A Haymarket publication

SETTING THE STANDARD

Summer 1985 £1.50

come to terms

with computers

DOYOUNEEDAMI
— 20 reasons why

1 IIiiVtI- lip-

. T 1 1

MSX is a worldwide computer
standard, chosen by most of the world’s
largest electronics companies. With MSX
machines, all software and all hardware
is completely compatible . . . games,
educational and business programs as
well as disks, joysticks and printers, which
means you can borrow your friends’

MSX software and play it on your machine,
and because it’s an agreed standard,
it will be here for years to come. Obsolete?
Not with MSX.

Like other MSX manufacturers our

Hitbit 75 has the best ‘basic’ around, great
coloui; great sound, a 64k memory and
more ports than you’ll probably ever need.

Hitbit also has a disk drive, printei;
data cartridge and a remote control joy-
stick. But, who else offers free, a unique
personal data base that can store
addresses, schedules or even remind you
when to feed the cat?

Who else offers our superb Sony styling?

Who else enjoys such a reputation
for reliability? Only the Sony Hitbit the
logical choice in computers. sS^y.

Summer 1985 Volume 1 Number 2

CREDITS

EDITORIAL

Editor: Kester Cranswick
Assistant Editor: Sally Wood
Art Editor: Richard Grill
Secretary: Nikkie Smith
Photography: Crispin Thomas,
Stan Papior, Paul Debois,
Matthew Barnes, Robert Brooks,
Lucilla Phelps

Group Editor: Gareth Renowden

Publisher: Paul Camp

ADVERTISING

Advertisement Manager: Neil ,
Alldritt

Advertising Production: Julia Cox

Technical queries; we regret
these cannot be answered over
the telephone. However should
you wish to write in we will
endeavour to answer any queries
through the magazine.

SUBSCRIPTIONS:

UK £7

Europe £10

Overseas £10

Airmail-Middle East £15

Airmail-North America, Africa,

India £18

Airmail-Aust., NZ, Japan £20

Back numbers and subscriptions:
obtainable by post from the Book
Sales Department, 12-14 Ansdell
Street, London W8 5TR.
Telephone: 01-937 7288. Please
a\',o\N t\wo \weeks for delivery.

The editor welcomes any
corrections or additions. Prices
quoted in editorial and
advertisements are correct at
press day but may be subject to
variation.

Every care is taken in compiling
the contents of the magazine to
ensure they are correct and
accurate, but the publisher
assumes no responsibility for any
effect from errors or omissions.
All material published in What
MSX? is copyright and
reproduction in whole or in part is
forbidden, except by permission
of the publishers.

Editorial, advertising and
circulation departments:
Haymarket Publishing Ltd.,

38-42 Hampton Road,
Teddington, Middlesex TWll OJE
Telephone: 01-977 8787
Photosetting and litho
origination by:

Meadway Graphics, Carlisle
House, 198 Victoria Road,
Romford, Essex RLl 2NX
Printed by: Chase Web Offset, St
Austell, Cornwall
®Haymarket Publishing 1985

5 MSX micros are coming down in price. 1985 machines are being
shown in Japan. There are Arabic MSX computers and MSX
software is coming out in a torrent. We’ve the latest news on all
this, and more.

l>AUDCTmA»l

19 Here's your chance to own a handsome Sony Hit Bit and disk drive.
Just solve ten simple clues to pinpoint the winning square on a ten
by ten grid.

ON

Four brand new MSX micros get the test treatment and we’ve been
playing the best games too.

20 Yamaha CX-5M. Is it a computer or a synthesizer, or both?

26 Software. 21 new titles reviewed, with Manic Miner best of the
test.

34 Goldstar FC-200. The least expensive MSX to date - is it a bargain
or not?

56 Mitsubishi MLF-48. With just 32K, is the Mitsubishi RAMshackle?

64 Panasonic CF-2700. No one will kick sand in the Panasonic’s
face. Find out why not.

GROUP

68 MSX V The Rest. How good is MSX? We put a Sony up against five
top non-MSX rivals.

77 Joystick Duel. Debbie Goldfinch flexes her wrists and puts twenty
joysticks through their paces.

Yamaha sounded out — page 20

Software listed In Buyers Guide

Jargon explained — page 85

15 Interview. Kay Nish i, Mr MSX himself, talks to What MSX? about
MSX’s past, present and future.

68 MSX Worldwide. What’s happening to the MSX around the world .
lain Dawson finds out.

72 BASIC Beginnings. Tom Sato traces the development of MSX
BASIC from the very beginning.

STARTING

11 Why Buy? Should you or shouldn’t you buy a computer? Fill in the
chart and find out.

85 Computer Terms. Do you know the difference between a PEEK and
a POKE or a bubble and a bus? Learn to talk computerese with us.

94 Name That Game. We trace the evolution of computer games from
ping pong to sophisticated adventures.

BUYERS

99 A comprehensive guide to all MSX computers, peripherals
software, joysticks and printers. If you want to know what’s
available for your MSX, you’ll find details in these data pages.

Manic Minor Is tops — page 26

MSX takes on the rest — page 40

Joysticks — we try 20 — page 77

HAYDON PLACE, GUILDFORD, SURREY GUI 4LR

OPEN

HI-TECH DEPARTMENT

CX5M

The CX5M Computer is
specifically designed for a
wide range of music
generation, programming and^
editing tasks, interfacing with
other Yamaha digital
instruments and components

OPTIONAL PROGRAMMES:

• YRM101 FM Music Computer-A must for all composers
and arrangers. With an On-Screen music staff. Onto
which you ‘write’ notes, input from Computer Keyboard or
direct from the Music Keyboard.

• YRM1 02 FM Voicing Program - For precise control
over the CX5M digital FM Voice Generator, to edit and
alter pre-programmed voices or create new voices of your
own.

MUSIC
COMPUTER

• MIDI-COMPATIBLE -

For playback control, auto-
sequencing of Yamaha DX
Synthesizers, RX Drum
machines and other MIDI
compatible equipment.

• YAMAHA DIGITAL FM
VOICE GENERATOR -

With 46 built in voices. Plus
your own.

• YRM1 03 DX7 Voicing Program - For DX7
owner's.Displays all DX7 voice parameters. Therefore,
programming is direct from the CX5M Computer
Keyboard.

• YRM1 04 Music Macro - For incorporating top-quality
musical voices into BASIC computer programmes.

Call Steve on Guildford (0483) 38212

LOW END
MSX PRICES
TUMBLE

Price cuts and budget compu-
ters have heralded a boom at
the lower end of the MSX
market. That is against the
background of a falling pound
that should be making im-
ported products more expen-
sive.

First below the £200 barrier
was Goldstar, with their 64K
MSX computer reviewed in this
issue. Toshiba weren’t long In
responding, cutting the price
of the HX-10 by £40 to
£239.95, and throwing in a
package of games software
worth over £21. The games are
Manic Miner, Hunchback and
French Is Fun. The HX-10 is
being discounted even more in
some outlets.

Mitsubishi chose the free
software approach in a bid to
offer better value for money.
Buy the ML-F48 or ML-F80

computer and you'll be given a
six pack of games software
worth over £45. With the 32K
MLF-48 costing just£225, it is
a tempting offer.

Soon to arrive is another
Korean-made machine, the
Network NW200, with a sub-
£200 price. And David Cros-
weller, PR man for Goldstar,

claims that £150 MSX micros
are not only possible but likely
in the near future. With other
non-MSX companies engaged
in a vicious price war that is
causingcasualtiesgalore, and
a pound that will hopefully
regain some ground, lower
priced MSX micros are looking
ever more certain.

MSX GOES ARABIC

MSX is reaching the Arab world
thanks to a tie-up between
Microsoft and a Kuwaiti com-
pany called Alalamiah Soft-
ware. The result is Arabic/
English MSX computers and
Arabic software.

Two manufacturers are mak-
ing Arabic versions of their
computers. They are Hitachi
and Yamaha. The changes
made include a full Arabic
character set and right to left
cursor movement. Keys are
marked with Arabic and En-
glish characters.

Software to be launched with
the computers includes prog-
rams, such as Arab/English
tutors, Koran quizzes and Ara-
bic design programs. Alala-
miah hope to launch around
five new titles a month.

Typical of the new compu-
ters is the Yamaha AX-100,
based on the CX-5M. It costs
£300 and has none of the
musical features of the CX-5M .
It does have a text writer
program and another to con-
vert Islam and Gregorian
calendars.

Future Alalamiah plans in-
clude an Arabic Disk Operating
System and Arabic printers.

MSX PLUS

FROM

TOSHIBA

Toshiba have been showing
their next MSX micro to the
trade in Japan and the US.
Called the HX-22, it is radically
different from the HX-10 on the
specifications front.

The main feature is an extra
area of memory that can be
used to store up to 16 prog-
rams, as if they were stored on
a disk drive. It is what is called
a RAM disk. The programs are
loaded upfromtapeordiskand
can then be loaded very rapidly
into the main RAM using BASIC
commands. The RAM disk
stores 32K of program or data,
and can be treated Just like an
external disk drive. You can
use it to store data to be output
to a printer, so the computer
can carry on computing while
things are being printed out.

Other specifications include
a two way RS-232C interface,
so one MSX micro can 'talk' to
another and a built-in word
processing package. As this
last item is for the Japanese
market, it won't be on any
export versions of the HX-22
and will probably be replaced
by another business-type
program.

The HX-22 will cost more
than current MSX micros, but
actual prices and delivery
dates aren’t known yet.

BUILT IN DISK FROM SPECTRAVIDEO

At a recent American trade
show Spectra video displayed
their next computer, called the
Express. Its most interesting
feature was a built-in 3.5in
diskdrive.

Inside there will be 64K RAM
and 16K VRAM. The keyboard
features 73 keys and a cursor
keypad. A retractable handle is
found on the back of the
casing, and literature claimed
that a carrying case would be
supplied. Interfaces include
RS-232C and Centronics
ports, two Joystick ports and
two I/O ports. The brochure
claimed that built-in software
would include a memo writer,
spreadsheet, report writer and
file handler. The disk drive will
allow MSX-DOS, Disk BASIC

and CP/M software to be run.

Spectravideo were also
showing a network interface
that allows 32 machines to be
connected together, sharing a
ten Megabyte hard disk stor-
age device. There’s an MSX

style data recorder (the S VI-
767) and an MSX version of the
Quickshot 2 Joystick.

The new computer is still
some months away, and will
probably be launched in the
Autumn.

r

MMCiiL

A powerful and virtually full implementation of Standard
Pascal. A valuable educational and development tool in an
incredibly small size (19K) for such a complete language
compiler, compiles directly to Z80 code which executes very
quickly, typically at least 40 times faster than the BASIC
equivalent. INTEGERS, REALs, CHARs, ARRAYS, SETs,
RECORDS, POINTERS, IF . . . THEN . . . ELSE, CASE . . .
OF, WHILE ... DO, REPEAT . . . UNTIL, FOR ... DO,
fully recursive procedures and functions, value and variable
parameters etc. etc. So much that you will not believe it.
You MUST write for details.

£19-95

An excellent, fast (4000 lines per minute) assembler coupled
with a powerful disassembler Idebugger. So many features that
we cannot possibly do the package justice here - conditional
assembly, assembly from tape, macros, secreen and line editing,
full arithmetic, front panel debugger with disassembler, single
step, multiple breakpoints, modify, list and move memory etc.
Everything you need AND fully relocatable so that it works on
ALL MSX machines with more than I6K memory.

180 High Street North
Dunstable, Beds. LU6 1AT
Te(; (0582)696421

All prices, UK delivered, relate to MSX versions. Our software
is available for many other Z80 machines e.g. Amstrad CPC
464, ZX Spectrum, Memotech, SHARP MZ700, NewBrain,
CPjM etc. Please write for details.

J

DISC WARRIOR

Travel the 3D computer complex alone on constant
alert for the android guards and robot canines.
Your mission— the cataclysmic destruction of the
master CPU. Armed only with your electrified ^
boomerang' power disc, blast your way through .
force barriers, defend yourself against enemies
whilst searching out parts of the master key and
constructing the superbomb before the ultimate
destruction can be achieved.

Send for full colour product leaflet (enclose a stamp)
Alligata Software Ltd., 1 Orange Street, Sheffield 51 4DW

Tel (0742) 755796

Software Limited

TAKE FIVE RECORDERS

> v' ::>...

'■

; • «cvSvJ^

V

Computer dedicated data
recorders are much more effi-
cient at loading and saving
cassette based computer
programs than audio cassette
recorders and five new models
have recently come onto the
market.

A German data recorder,
currently distributed by Twill-
star Computers retails at
£25.95 butdoesn’tincludethe
MSX cassette cable at £3.95
and the power supply unit
costing £4.95. LED lights dis-
play “Ready", “Save", "Load"
and "Control" functions and it
has an automatic level control
and shut off.

Binatone’s data recorder
costs £29.95 and includes an
optimised Load-Save circuitry,
cue/review facility and a tape

counter for program indexing.
A high pitched tone can be
heard while a program is being
saved. The price includes the
MSX cassette cable.

Spectravideo’s SVI-767
data recorder costs £29.95
and includes the MSX cassette
cable.

Network and Micro Dealer's
data recorders, both have in-
built audio speakers and are
not exclusively dedicated to
computer use.

The NW900 from Network
costs £29.95 including the
MSX cassette cable and Micro
Dealer’s Omega Compurecor-
der is priced at £24.95
together with a head alignment
tape but not an MSX cassette
cable. Thatmaycomewithyour
computer.

JOYSTICKS

REVAMPED

Joysticks of all shapes and
sizes were launched at the
L.E.T trade show in February.

Spectravideo added two
more joysticks to their Quick-
shot range, the cream-coloured
Quickshot II and the black
Quickshot V at £14.95 and
£11.95 respectively. Both
have two fire buttons on the
handle and the latter sports a
large keypad on the base.

Both Joysticks have an auto-
matic fast firing function as
well as a twin fire action
enabling the user to use the
handle's two fire buttons to
control two diff erentactions on
screen. This function won’t
work unless software has been
written to utilise it. Software
manufacturers take note!

Kempston Micro Electronics
have renamed and revamped

two of their Joysticks: the
Competition Pro 5000 and
3000 are now called the For-
mula 1 and 2 at £16.95 and
£11.95 respectively. These
and the Scoreboard Joystick, a
box-like device with two fire
buttons at£28. 95 are now part
of their new Grand Prix range.

Changes include the colour
— now blue and the addition of
micro switches which Kemp-
ston claim endow the control-
lers with more precise and
positive actions.

Voltmace have at last added
a MSX compatible version to
their Joystick range, the Delta
3SM. Retailing at £11.95, it
has three red fire buttons.

The Powerplay Joystick from
Protek Computing is their
latest addition to their range of
computer peripherals and
costs £11.95. It has three red
fire buttons and a rapid fire
function. Finally, Vulcan Elec-
tronics have launched an MSX
Joystick costing £13.

LOW COST DISK DRIVE DEVELOPMENTS

Disk drives are the most
efficient means of saving and
loading data and MSX is de-
signed to support a disk drive
system.

All information is loaded
onto magnetic disks and these
are able to store much more
data than either cassette
tapes or ROM cartridges. At
present there are four MSX
compatible disk drives avail-
able, but only two, the Sony
HBD-50 and the Spectravideo
SVI-707, will randomly access
files at any position on disk.

The other two use sequent! a I
access systems which means
that they run through the track
sectors until they reach the
relevant file.

Sony’s disk drive uses 3.5
inch disks and offers 360K of
usable memory for a £350
price tag. It connects to the

micro via the cartridge port. It
will run MSX-DOS when the
disk version becomes avail-
able and is supplied with DISK
BASIC.

Spectravideo’s disk drive
uses 5.25 inch double-sided
double density disksand offers
326K of memory for £345.

The Tiny disk drive, the MC

132 designed by the Japanese
company TE and distributed by
Cambridge Micro Computer
Centre provides Just 32k of
unformatted memory for a
much lower £40. It uses a
sequential access system and
small 2.5 inch disks.

Microlink’s Quick disk drive
costs about £130 and holds
128K unformatted memory. It
uses double-sided double de-
nsity 2. 8inchdisks and likethe
Tiny disk drive has a sequential
access system.

What

ftis woman doing?

Several years ago, I was a
university teacher. One even-
ing my wife and I were visiting
a group of college friends. One
them began discussing a
very simple small business that
a person can start at home — a
“home money project”, as he
called it. But when he told me
how much money it brought
in, I almost dropped my coffee
cup on my lap.

My wife and 1 discussed the
project as we were driving
home. We decided to try it.

The project kept us busy
about 8-9 hours each week.

We used our dining room as
an office and kept supplies in
one corner of our hall cupboard.

At first our income was small — it»75 to
it»95 per week. But, as the months passed,
our “kitchen table” income climbed to
over ifc680 per week.

Let me emphasize one thing. This is
very important. Our “money project” is
moral, honest and downright enjoyable.
And, it’s 100% your own. It doesn’t
involve working for anyone else.

I explained the project to my mother.
She was 71 years old and lived by herself
in a flat on West Market Street. Within the
first 90 days she made over it>3,000. All
by herself!

As our curiosity grew, we discovered a
variety of other people making money
but with somewhat different projects...

I talked with a housewife who’s been
earning thousands of pounds for over six
years. She uses one comer of her garage
as a work area.

• She makes up to io200 per week in her
spare time.

• She provides a needed service to her
community.

• She works exclusively at home.. .using
a card table. She doesn’t need a special
office of any kind.

• She works for no one else. Tliere is no
selling involved. Most of her clients
call her at home. In fact, she installed a
phone in the garage.

i

i;

x;'’-

> ■

: : :

TRY THIS TEST

1. Whcn your Guide arrives, select one project.
Read the directions carefullv. Remember to
begin slowly.

2. Tr>' it for six months.

3. At the end of this trial period, examine your
income. If you’re not satisfied with the results,
return the Ciuide and we will REFUND YOUR
FULL PURCHASE PRICE ...NO CONDITIONS
NO DEIAYS.

• Her service is so simple that almost
anyone with a flair for crafts could
start the same business in their own
neighbourhood within 20 days. The
photo above shows her busy with one
of her craft projects (full details are
given to you).

OVER £35,000 PER YEAR

Two housewives I Spoke with started a
similar project two years ago. Both of
them have young children at home and
households to run — in addition to their
home-based business. Currently, their
part-time project is bringing in over
it»3 5, ()()() a year.

Another couple using the same pro-
ject we used made i 14,870 in just five
months.

Obviously, this is exceptional income.
What you make will be up to you. But the
income potential from some of these pro-
jects can be staggering. A husband and
wife team I spoke with started a money
1985 Chartsearch Ltd, II Blomfield Street, London

project similar to ours. Last
year, operating hill time, they
earned over iL.l()8,()00 — all
at home on their farm.

HOWTOSTART

First, you must be willing
to work. All of these pro-
jects require time, energy
and creativity.

Second, you’ll need some
working space in your home
or fiat. A telephone will help,
too.

Third, our projects are
tested and workable. No en-
velope stuffing schemes, no
“party plans”, no door-to-door selling.
None of that nonsense.

You won’t need “capital” to begin.
Many of the projects can be started for as
little as io25 to

You won’t need youth. Maturity and
experience are excellent assets.

You won’t have to wait. Most of these
projects can be started in just 15 days\

Quite frankly, we’re happy to share
them with you. Because they involve
creative projects that can be duplicated
in thousands of neighbourhoods all over
the country. The opportunity is nation-
wide. We won’t be competing with you
and you won’t be competing with us.
That’s why we’ve put everything in a
simple, easy-to-follOw Starter Guide. It
shows you step by step how to begin
each project.

MONEY BACK IF NOT DELIGHTE^

To prove that you can make extra
money at home, you have our positive
100% money-back guarantee. Order
your guide. Keep it for up to six months.
This gives you time to actually try> a
project yourself If you’re not satisfied,
just return it. We’ll send you a ftill reftind
within three working days.. .no nonsense
...no excuses.

This is the fairest way I know to help
you get started.

To: Chartsearch Ltd., 1 1 Blomfield Street, London EC2M 7AY

Please send me the complete Home Money Projects Starter Guide for which I enclose payment of i»l 2.95
(includes postage and packing) □ Cheque/Postal Order of £12.95 enclosed □ Please charge my Credit Card as follows:

A/C number ( Access/Visa/Diners/Amex )

From: Name BLOCK

Address CAPITALS

PLEASE

Postcode

Signed

Rcei.stcrcJ in Ln^and No. 1.540222

Date

SOFTWARE ON
SHOW

MSX software made the big-
gest impact at an otherwise
unexciting L.E.T show in Febru-
ary. Very few new products or
software ideas were in evi-
dence apart from the wide
variety of MSX products.

Many software houses have
converted one or two of their
best selling games for the
MSX, but they are loath to
start producing more titles
because of the difficulty in
finding dealers willing to take
them.

An Ocean Software spokes-
man told us that although they
were including their game De-
cathlon in the software pack-
age accompanying Toshiba’s
computer, they had no inten-
tion of trying to sell it separate-
ly. 'It justwouldn’t sell’ he said.
Artie Computing have con-
verted their bestseller, Mutant
Monty for MSX, but will only
make it to order. Melbourne
House are waiting to see how
their new conversion. The Hob-
bit, priced at £14.95 does
before converting Mugsy or
Classic Adventure.

Clive Bailey of Beyond told
usthatthey would be waitingto
see how the demand for MSX
games went before producing
anything — a comment we
heard several times before
leaving the show!

Fortunately not everyone
shared their pessimism. Some
of the companies at the show
were so confident of MSX
products that they were selling
nothing else — Electric Soft-
ware, Konami and Aackosoft
International, a Dutch com-
pany, for example. Electric
were demonstrating a number
of games including their
newest two, Le Mans, a racing
car simulator and The Wreck, a
graphics adventure, both at
£9.95. Zaxxon and Buck Rod-
gers each costing £11.95 will
be available this month. Elec-
tric also have plans to import
two Japanese games called
Chack’n Pop and Ferq. A num-
ber of professional MSX DOS
games are in the pipeline.

Aackosoft showed us the
Aackotext and the Aackobase,
a word processor and data
base which can be linked
together, costing about £45
each for both a disk and

cassette. Games include
Alpha Blaster, Scramble, Jet
Fighter, Space Busters and Jet
Bomber retailing at about £9.

Another vote of confidence
for MSX products comes from
Europe where the MSX compu-
ters have really taken off.
Without exception, all the soft-
ware houses told us that Euro-
pean dealers had expressed
great interest in MSX games
because the MSX computers
aresellinglike hotcakes. Mike
Hall of Electric Software told us
that Philips had imported
40,000 of theircomputers into
Italy and had quickly sold every
one — surprising because
there was very little MSX soft-
ware there!

Despite a hint of pessimism
from some of the software
houses we discovered that
many of them were planning
to produce cassette-based
games. Alligata are bringing
out Superbowl, an American
football simulation in May for
£7.95. A.S.K are selling Num-
ber Chaser, an educational
gameutilisingmental arithme-
tic skills for 5 to 14 year olds,
retailing at £8.95.

Bubble Bus have used a
Bridge Grand Master to write
Boardello, a type of Othello for
£7.95. CDS Microsystems are
currently developing Steve
Davis Snooker and will be
doing a Pool version for the
European market. They’re also
bringing out Castle Blackstar,
part of a trilogy for £6.95.
DK’Tronics are planning to
release two games costing

£9.95 each this month — Pop
Eye and Minder, described by
Roger Barnard, a DK’Tronic
spokesman as 'a different ex-
perience altogether’ (we wait
with bated breath!).

Icon Software are scheduled
to release their four MSX
games over the next couple of
months and Chyralis is the
first. Following on will be
Frankenstein, Cave Man Cap-
ers and Phantom Zone. They’ll
all retail at £6.95.

Level 9 Computing’s latest
adventure is Emerald Isle
which follows your efforts to
get off an island in the Bermu-
da Triangle, priced at £6.95.
Mastertronic’s new £1.99
game is Splash and should be
available this month. Mirror-
soft’s conversion of Games
Creator, out this month will
cost £12.95. Mr Micro were
demonstrating their two new
games. Mayhem and Zakil
Wood, a graphics adventure,
for £7.95 each.

Quicksilva plans to launch
four program conversions; Ant
Attack, Fred and Sprite Editor
for £7.95 each and Games
Designer at£9.95.

Maths Invaders, an educa-
tional maths game for 4 to 12
year olds from Stell Software
retails at £7.95. Finally, Ter-
minal Software p reviewed the i r
first MSX game. Lazy Jones
costing £8.95.

All this software activity from
both new and established
companies is surely a healthy
signfor increasinginterestand
confidence in MSX.

PRINT OUT

Books for the MSX owner
continue to be announced and
released. Melbourne House
have issued their third MSX
book, 'MSX Exposed’ by Joe
Pritchard. Priced at £7.95, it is
a beginners introduction to
programming, leading up to an
introduction to Machine Code.

Collins have two MSX titles
in the shops. ‘Working With
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K Kti I

T ialkto a computer buff and
you’ll wonder how man
survived before the dawn
of computers. History is
divided into years P.C. (Pre
Computer) and years A.C.
(After Clive). Those who don’t
agree with this apparently suf-
fer from a Luddite mentality.
This view is hopelessly at odds
with the view of the person
who’s yet to fall prey to the
attractions of the microchip
and who sees the whole phe-
nomenon as a case of technol-
ogy gone mad.

Between these two schools
lie you, wondering whether to
take the plunge and buy a
computer. £300 or so is a tidy
sum to spend on a whim. The
family may not appreciate the

Thinking of buying a
computer? Here are twenty
reasons why you shouid

fortnight in Spain being sacri-
ficed for a glorified calculator.

What can a computer do?
What can you do with a compu-
ter? Can you do without a
computer? It is worth spending
a little time deciding if and why
you need a computer.

At the end of this article
there is a chart to fill in. It will
focus your thoughts and help
you decide if you need a
computer or not. It should also
help you to plan your comput-
ing purchases in order to get

exactly what you need for a
particular purpose. Consider it
a profile of your computing
requirements.

If you haven’t really thought
seriously about what you can
use a computer for, you have
one reason staring you in the
face. Curiosity is perhaps the
best name for it. No matter how
rationally you debate the pros
and cons of using a computer
for different applications, in
the final analysis, there is no
better proof than hands on

experience. All the debate in
the world can’t equal practical
experimentation. And, once
you have a computer, new
applications will almost cer-
tainly spring to mind, with you
i n the ideal position to try them
out.

Unfortunately, buying a
computer is an expensive way
to answer the question "What
if?’’ If the a nswer tu rns out to be
that you really don’t need a
computer after all, you’ve
wasted good money. Ideally, it
would be great to hire a
computer for a short period to
find out what they are like.
That’s not often possible, so
you’ll need to evaluate diffe-

rent applications in your head.

Games are the obvious ap-
plication. If you have ever felt
attracted to amusement
arcades, you'll know the adre-
nal in-activating properties of a
good arcade game. Unfortu-
nately, at 20p a go, mastering
the games in an arcade en-
vironment is costly. Buying a
computer gives you the chance
to try arcade favourites in the
comfort of your own home, and
at a cost of just a few pounds
for as many attempts as you
want. You won’t have the eyes
ofthe world on you, and will be
able to play as and when the
urge takes you.

Of course there is an alterna-
tive to the computer, in the
shape of the once popular
video games machines. These
are now in attics across the
land, replaced by the compu-
ter. Games are still available
but the choice is limited and
cartridges are expensive. MSX
computers take cartridges, so
if you want the best quality
games and instant loading,
you have that option available.

Alternatively, pocket ver-
sions of arcade games, using
liquid crystal displays, are
available for £20 or so. Once
you’ve got the knack of a
particu lar game , these toys are
precious little use.

The other option is not to
play arcade games at all — a
difficult decision to stick to.
With all the games available,
you’re boundtofind something
that gives you an itchy trigger
finger.

Arcade gamesaren’tthe only
sort. If you feel your reflexes
are too slow to survive a
planetary invasion, adventure
games offer a more cerebral
form of entertainment, and
certainly aren’t imitated in
amusement arcades.

You’ll be plunged into an
imaginary world, having to
survive on your wits and intelli-
gence. There may be monsters
to do battle with, treasure to
collect and plenty to keep you
amused over long winter even-
ings. The non-computer
a Iternative to this type of game
is the printed adventure game
book. Written in sections, your
decisions lead you to one
section after another, trying to
solve the adventure. Such
books are inexpensive, widely
available, portable (unlike
MSX computers), but once
mastered, not much use. If

you’ve never been adventuring
before, they are worth trying
out to see if you like the genre
of game.

Adventure and arcade
games are a world apart from
traditional parlour and pub
games. Fear not — these too
are available for computers.
Whether your preference is for
bridge, chess, cribbage or
backgammon, you’ll probably
find a program that lets you
play against your computer.
Computers make mean oppo-
nents and such games give
ample opportunity to brush up
on your skills, providing you
can accept being beaten by a
machine. The other advantage
is that you can play if no-one
around wants to or is able to.

The alternative is to buy the
cards, pieces or board needed
fora game. Many peoplefind it
decidedly odd playing a game
like chess on a television
screen. However, buying the
bits doesn’t guarantee oppo-
nents, norwill you learn a good
game unless you find a good
teacher. Chess machines do
exist, combining a real board
with a computer program, but
the best of these cost as much
as a budget MSX computer.

That’s nothing compared to
the cost of trying out a flight
simulator or taking driving
lessons in a Formula One
racing car. Countless compu-
ters have been sold to enthu-
siasts wanting to fly or race
without leaving the living
room. With a computer and a
program you can pilot a Boeing
737 , fly thespace shuttle, race
around Silverstone, command
a submarine and much, much
more. The only alternative is
perhaps a racing car simulator
in an amusement arcade, but
this is costly and not as
convenient as a computer
simulation.

Simulatorsalsoprovide use-
ful practice if you want to learn
to fly or to drive. Most are pretty
realistic and it won’t matter
how many times you crash.

Computers make excellent
teachers of other subjects too.
They have infinite patience,
always teach at your own pace
and to learn a new subject, all
you need i s a new program . The
rangeof subjects you can learn
with a computer is limited only
by the imagination of program-
mers. Science, history, litera-
ture and maths programs are
all available. Asmall library of

programs can replace a large
library of books.

If you are travelling to a
foreign land, you could get a
language program to teach you
the native lingo. Compared to
the cost of a proper language
course, a computer is quite
reasonably priced.

You’ll find programs that
teach you about computer lan-
guages too. BASIC is the ob-
vious language to learn,
though at a more advanced
stage, you may want to learn
Machine Code. One program
could do thejob of many books,
and probably teach you more
too.

Learningabout computers is
yet another reason to buy a
computer. Books teach just so
much — at some point you’ll
have to get your hands on a
machine.

You may wonderwhy there is
any need to learn about com-
puters in the first place. Com-
puteracy is not yet essential to
survival in the modern world,
but all the signs are that
computers are going to play a
more and more important role
in our lives. Those who know
about computers will be better
placed to take advantage of
the changes happening
around them, when it comes to

A video games machine gives games
entertainment, but that’s all.
Computers can play more traditional
games too, with only one person. Your
computer could do the Job of a
typewriter, with a word processing
program, or replace a cardbox, or act
as a directory, with the right software.
All you have to do Is add programs and
peripherals

w//<' v

work habits, home conveni-
ences and so on. Training on
computers is training for the
future.

Children already learn a
good deal about computers at
school. Having a computer in
the home isa wayfor parents to
keep up with theyoun g ones ( or
at least not be so far behind),
and forthe children to practise
what they are taught. You don't
need to have the same compu-
ter as the one at school — so
long as your computer has a
good BASIC, as MSX compu-
ters do, and a good range of
software available.

Given you have a computer,
you can choose from the multi-
tude of educational programs
available for children of all
ages. Mathsandspelling prog-
rams are the most common,
though there are many revision
programs available for adv-
anced 'A' and ‘O' level subjects.
If you don't understand the
subjects your children are
studying, leave it to a program
and a computer to help them .

For mathematical applica-
tions, whether in a homework
context or for scientific pur-
poses, the computer is a
natural. It works faster than a
pocket calculator, can have
very complex calculations
programmed in and can of
course be connected to a
pr i nter for hard copy of results.
You could buy a programmable
scientific calculator, which is
much more portable than a
computer, butthe best of these
cost £100 or more, still need
programming and do nothing
more than calculate. If you
want to tackle serious scien-
tific calculations, a computer
is the answer.

Computers come in handy
for hobbies too. Astronomers
or astrologers could use the
calculation facilities. Electri-
cians could write programs to
test circuit designs. War
gamesenthusiasts could prog-
ram the calcu lations they need
into a computer. Gamblers
could work out odds. When you
have a computer, it is amazing
what uses you can dream up.

Data storage is an estab-
lished application. With a
database program you can
store all manner of informa-
tion. It could be a catalogue of
records or books. It could be
details of a stamp or butterfly
collection. It could be a direc-
tory of friends’ addresses and

telephone numbers.

Cynics say that electronic
storage of data is merely an
expensive way of replacing
fi ies or address books. To store
data, you have to plan a system
and enter all the information.
In many cases, the old paper
and card methods are cheaper,
more accessible and easier to
use. Still, if you have a great
deal of data that may need to
be manipulated, a computer
can be a very efficient filing
system.

In the home, a computer can
do much more than just store
an address book. It should be
possible, and companies like
Sony have demonstrated that it
is possible, to control many
things in a house. A computer
could control the central heat-
ing, monitor power consump-
tion, set the video or burglar
alarms — just plug in and
program the appliance. We
have a way to go yet before
such applications become
widespread but computer
buffs with a DIY bent are
a I ready tacki i ng such projects.
Control of the home is a
futuristic reason for buying a
computer but a reason none-
theless.

On a more practical level, a
computer in the home can be
used to run accounts and
budgeting software to keep a
track of finances. It could store
family trees, and with connec-
tions to electronic databases,
it could be used for electronic
shopping. In a sense it is just
replacing paper, but only a
computer nut would claim that
computers are the answer to
everything. What they do do is
produce more reliable systems
that are stepping stones to the
future.

Electronic mail is one fea-
ture of the future that is very
much today. With a modem you
can link intoelectronicmailbox
networks and communicate
with other computer users,
swapping tips, chatting, leav-
ing messages and so on. You
can access databases to get
latest news, travel reports,
financial information and so
on. Electronic communi-
cations is a booming industry
and one you can join right now.

Accounts may suggest busi-
ness applications. It is a com-
mon fallacy that a home micro
can run a large business. A

standard MSX machine with
financial and word processor
programs, a disk drive and
printer should be able to hand-
le the accounts, data and
documentation of a very small
company or a home business.
For larger companies, you real-
ly want to be considering an
office micro, costing £1000 or
more.

One huge advantage of MSX
computers is that they can run
CP/M business programs from
the office micro, if an MSX d isk
drive is fitted. This means that
you could bring work home
from the office, plug in your
MSX micro and carry on com-
puting. Certainly business
applications make a good
reason to buy a computer for
the home. The alternative is
either hiring accountants or
sticking with reams of paper-
work.

The mention of word proces-
sing will cause many eyebrows
to raise. It is becoming ack-
nowledged as a most impor-
tant computer application. In
the businessenvironment, this
is certainly the case, but in the
home, the use may be more
limited. It depends on how
much correspondence you
have. If you already have a
reasonable typewriter, a com-
puter for word processing may
be overkill, as you'll need to
buy a printer too. But if you are
a budding novelist or do plenty
of correspondence that must
look good, a computer is much

cheaper than hiring a typist.

Writing need not be res-
tricted to letters and books.
There are many, many people
who have made money out of
computers by writing prog-
rams. That needs a computer
and some knowledge of prog-
ramming, butacomputeristhe
first step. Buy a computer,
master programming skills,
come up with an original idea
and you could have a best
seller on your hands. In the
early days of MSX you'll have
more chance of finding a
markettoo. Asan alternative to
programs you might also con-
sider books or magazine arti-
cles. Both are lucrative fields.
With the right breaks, you'll
find computing is one hobby
that can pay for itself.

If you start to investigate
programming you'll almost
certainly come to know the
graphics potential of MSX
computers. Many computer

buffs use their machines
almost solely for graphics pur-

poses. Design studios experi-
ment with Computer Aided
Design (CAD). Other hobbyists
connect cameras to their com-
puters and generate computer
images of their subjects. It is
relatively easy to write simple
programs that use mathe-
matical relationshipsto gener-
ate beautiful patterns on
screen or on paper. Computer
graphics is a field that is
fascinating, satisfying to the
creative instinct and fertile
ground for experimentation.

Much the same can be said
about computer music. MSX
computers have a sound chip
that is capable of some stun-
ning effects. You can write you
own tunes or load programs
that turn your computer into a
miniature synthesizer. Yama-
ha’s MSX computercomeswith
a proper piano-style keyboard
and outplays many synthe-
sizers costing much more. It is
good enough to be used on
stage.

Buying a proper musical

instrument or synthesizer is an
alternative. If music is your
only interest, then a kosher
instrument will be more satis-
fying than a programmed com-
puter. But, if music is just one
of many interests, the answer
may be different.

Computers could be justi-
fied in the interests of family
goodwill too. Having a compu-
ter i n the house will give bored
children someting to amuse
themselves with. The family
that plays together stays
-together. Beware of the dan-
gers of getting so involved with
your new toy that you shut
yourself away from the family
though. It is all too easy to
become totally absorbed in
games or programming, to the
exclusion of other commit-
ments.

Own i ng a computer wi 1 1 prob-
ably not transform your life
immediately. But if you add up
all the things you could do with
it, you'll probably see that what
a computer makes possible is
more than enough to justify the
expense. If you consider the
cost of all the alternatives
you'll need to do the same as
you can with a computer, you'll
realize that a computer is
excellent value for money. So,
fill in the chart, see what your
need rating is and we hope
you’ll shortly be a paid up
member of the computing
fraternity. What's more, we
hope you'll be a member of the
MSX computing fraternity. ■■

Do you really need a computer? Fill In and find out

Reason

No Way

Couldn't

Care

Give It

AGO

Definitely

Interested

Essential

Learn about computers
Play arcade games
Help with hobbies
Word processing
Join computer networks
Manage home finances
Make music
Make money
Play adventure games
Keep the kids amused
Do scientific calculations
Use simulators
Organize data
Curiosity

Play strategy games
Control the home
Education

Everyone else has one
Run a small business
Explore computer graphics

1 point

2 points

3 points

4 points

5 points

Total up your points for your answers:

20-40 Stick to a si ide ru le
40-60 Discuss it with the family

60-80 Discuss it with a dealer
80 plus what are you waiting for?

MSX exists largely
due to the efforts of
one man - Kay Nishi.
We’ve been talking to
him about the MSX
phenomena

K ay NIshI is a difficult man
to get in touch with. He
aimost iives aboard a
Jumbo Jet and even his secret-
ary has a hard time keeping
track of his movements. Stiii,
as the man who most deserves
the titie Mr MSX, you can
understand why he is so franti-
caily busy.

When I eventually got to talk
to him, after an exchange of at

least a dozen Telexes, it was
1.15a.m. in Tokyo, a time
when most of us would rather
be tucked up in bed. Not Kay
Nishi. He was still living and
breathing MSX with incredible
enthusiasm.

Kazuhiro Nishi has been into
computers from their very ear-
liest days. Based on a small
computer magazine called
ASCII, he founded a company

of the same name. In 1978,
following an agreement with
Microsoft in America, ASCII
Microsoft Ltd. was estab-
lished, to market American
software and Microsoft BASIC
in the Far East
Then along came Spectra-
video, wanting to build a home
micro in Hong Kong. ASCII

IS

‘When I was nine or ten
years old, my father
brought home a
programmable

electronic machine.

It triggered

my Interest’

Microsoft agreed to supply the
BASIC and developed what was
almostMSX BASIC. Kaysawhis
chance. He had an excellent
BASIC, he was in the heart of
the Japanese multi-nationals,
and he began to spread the
idea of a standard in home
computing. The bigcompanies
jumped at the chance to get
into home computers and the
standard was announced in
1983. The rest is history.

Kay spends his time co-
ordinating the development of
MSX on a worldwide basis,
flying from country to country
selling the concept and
spreading new ideas. He is the
public face on what is becom-
ing a phenomenon in the
computer industry and thor-
ughly deserves to be called Mr
MSX.

Ho wdidyou first get involved
in computing?

When I was nine or ten years
old, some 20 years ago, my
father brought home a
programmable electronic
machine. It triggered my in-
terest. I was fascinated by the
way it could handle numbers
and wondered if it could handle
text and graphics in the same
manner. The potential uses of
such a machine could be
enormous.

At school I was an electro-
nics whizz kid. I am into
amateur radio astronomy (I
once built my own telescope)
and photography. So I became
very involved with the early
computers. Though I took a
degree in mechanical en-
gineering and robotics at col-
lege, most of my knowledge is
self taught, and I knew the
basics of electronics by the
time I reached university.

Then, in 1975, General In-
struments introduced a video
games chip and at the same
time Intel announced their
8080 processor. From then on I
knew where my future lay, and
you know the history of MSX.

Would you describe yourself
as a computing professional?

I think I still have a hobbyist
approach to computing. To me
it is still great fun. I am also
impressed by the theoretical
beauty of the latest develop-
ments and the challenge of
bridging the gap between the
theory and its practical imple-
mentation is a real driving
force.

Is MSX a real advance on
current computers, or is
standardization the important
thing?

Everyone thinks that stan-
dardization is achieved by the
actions of some large, invisi-
ble body. Standardization is
notas importantasall that — it
is the separation of software
and hardware that is crucial.

Until MSX, the two have been
closely related. By that I mean
that software has been de-
veloped for a particular micro,
and dependent on that micro.

The life of a micro is a chain
of events. In the first year,
hardware is designed. In the
second year, it is built. In the
third year, software is de-
veloped. In the fourth year.

software and hardware sales
are at much the same rate. In
the fifth year, software sales
dominate as the hardware
starts to saturate the market.
In the next year, hardware
sales accelerate as the
amount of software gives cus-
tomer confidence, and on it
goes. This linking of hardware
and software is the total evil of
this business.

If you look at consumer
goods, you'll see a different
situation. Take the record,
audio tape, video and televi-
sion markets. The hardware is
manufactured and developed
by major companies, irrespec-
tive of the software (records,
cassettes, TV programs and so
on) The hardware companies

can devote their efforts to
producing low cost, high quali-
ty hardware. The software
companiescan concentrate on
producing better records,
tapes or software.

Until now, software com-
panies have had to co-operate
closely with the hardware

manufacturers. They have had

♦

keep one eye out for models
being discontinued and have
not been free to develop pro-
ducts independently of the
hardware companies. With
MSX, companies can now de-
velop hardware or software
without having to worry about
what is happening in the other
camp.

Compatible

Take Sinclair for example.
With the launch of the Spec-
trum, all those companies
producing ZX81 software were
caught outand made unhappy.
So too was the consumer. If he
or she wants to upgrade from
say a Spectrum to a QL, all the
existing software must be writ-
ten off as it is not compatible.

So, compatability is impor-
tant, but it isthe independence
of hardware and software that
isthe most crucial ingredient.

MSX IN JAPAN

MSX activity in Japan is weil
ahead of activity here, with
more machines, software and
peripherals available. Sur-
veying the latest develop-
ments gives a good idea of
what lies in store for us.

Budget MSXcomputersare a
real ity. Casio have an 8K m icro
selling for just over £100. It
has rubberised keys, two but-
tons for Track and Field type
games, cursor keys and a
cursor keypad. An expansion
unit, for around £50, gives the
a bj I ity to add extra RAM, up to
64k. Casio are also selling
cartridge programs, including
Circus Charlie and UFO.

Sony have a budget MSX
machine, the £170 HitBit HB-
101. IthasjustlGKof RAM, but
features space age styling, a

carrying handle, built-in joys-
tick and a full complement of
keys.

Sony also have announced
plans for two ne w m i cros — the
HB-701 and the HB-701FD.
Both have keyboards linked to
the main processing unit by a
cable and the latter machine
has built-in 3.5in disk drives.

Teleton have a 32K machine
with a separate keyboard.
Their monitor is also a TV, and
has the computing unit built
into the base.

Hitachi have built a stereo
cassette recorder into their
MB-H2 micro. Itisa 64Kmodel
with 16K of built-in firmware.
This gives the user a graphics
program, a musical program, a
program to scan the contents
of cassettes and locate a

. Sony’s HB-101 Is a budget 16K micro

particular program, plus a
Machine Code utilityforwriting
Machine Code programs. The
MB-H2alsohasanRGBoutput.

Graphics are certainly big
news, with a number of video
imposition units becoming
available. Sanyo's MPC-X de-
vice allows a resolution of 512
X 204 pixels, 512 colours and
has an RGB output. The
Pioneer PX7BX micro can be
interfaced to Pioneer’s laser
disc player and laser disc
controller to use the graphics
from these devices. An extra
8 K of ROM i s used for P-BASI C ,
to control these devices.

Graphics imposition devices
allow you to mix computer and
video or TV graphics. You'll

National’s CF2601 Superimpositlon unit typifies the new wave of peripherals

Is the UK an important mar-
ket, or is MSX more likely to
succeed in Europe?

The UK market is extremely
important. Home computer
penetration of the market is
already very high, with a higher
percentage of families owning
computers than in perhaps any
other country. It is a mature
market, and our mission is very
clearly to establish MSX in the
UK, by giving consumers a
production that can be totally
satisfied with.

computer mainly as a games
machine, or are the serious
applications more important?

It is impossible to ignore the
games market. Entertainment
is a very important factor in the
world of computing. But I see

databases. It will be possible
to transmit software via these
means too, at a very reason-
able cost. So, communica-
tions is an important facet of
home computing.

‘I still have a hobbyist
approach to computing.
Tome it is still great fun.
I am also Impressed by
the theoretical beauty of
the latest
developments’

How will you maintain com-
patability between eight, six-
teen and 32 bit versions of
MSX?

I can’t comment on that at
this stage, though I must
stress that all MSX micros will
be upwardly compatible. You
will be able to run today’s

is MSX basically a begin-
ner’s micro, or an upgrade
machine?

It is both .With the least
expensive machines, costing
perhaps £100 or so, we wiil
have a rival to the Sinclair
Spectrum and other micros.
Price is important to the begin-
ner. Yet the upwardly compati-
ble nature of MSX means that it
wiil appeal to users seeking a
more sophisticated machine
that wili grow with them.

Is the future of the home

more serious applications as
being the more important,
particularly in the field of
communications.

This fa I Is into two categories
— personal and mass com-
muncations. Personal com-
munications is the realm of
electronic mail and person to
person computer communica-
tion, via networks, bulletin
boards and the like. Mass
communications is for things
like Ceefax, Prestel and other

How will the various national
software markets interrelate?

We should find a great deal
of co-operation. Ai ready
Japanese companies are mak-
ing inroads into the American
and European markets. No
doubt there wili a reverse flow
of ideas and products.

need a video recorder and an
MSX computer first. Then units
such as the National CF-2601
Super Imposition Unit, Pioneer
Video Art graphics tablet and
Pioneer ER-101 video inter-
face can be used.

Yamaha have developed a
number of interesting devices.
Two are card readers. One
reads music, the other
graphics. A card is passed
through a reading device and
the data is loaded into the
co'itiputer. You can thus hold a
library of cards that can be
loaded in an instant. Yamaha
also have a Japanese charac-
ter word processor.

A budget rival to the car-
f tridge is being talked about

I

too. It involves mounting a
legless blob of programmed
silicon onto a board that slots
into the cartridge slot. The
main advantage is that it is
cheaper than conventional
cartridge software.

The software charts are
dominated by cartridge prog-
rams. Best sellers at the mo-
ment include Konami’s Hyper
Sports 2, Activision's Pitfall 2
and Antarctic Adventure. There
is a version of Athletic land,
with Cabbage Patch Kidsasthe
actors and Ghostbusters is
being heavily promoted.

With all this activity, we can
look forward to some exciting
developments in MSX in the
near future.

Casio 8KMSX can be expanded to 64K.
Japan’s top game Is Hyper Sports 2

Do you see MSX as being a
viable business system, parti-
cularly with MSX-DOS on the
horizon?

I don’t want to see MSX in the
office, though it may be suit-
able for some situations. With
64K of memory, a Z80 proces-
sor, a printer, disk drives and
so on attached, an MSX com-
puter wil i rival any comparable
eight bit micro in the office
environment.

software and peripherals on
future generations of
machines.

Will the need to maintain
upward compatability inhibit
development of future MSX
machines?

There is certainly a cost factor
to be borne. It won’t be cheap
maintaining the upward com-
patability, and we may notto be
able to use the very latest
technology when it first be-
comes available. The benefits
will be worth it though.

How can you see MSX ex-
panding?

There wili obviously be up-
ward expansion, with
machines having more and
more peripherals, better spe-
cifications and features. There
is aiso horizontai expansion.

That is the linking of MSX to
other consumer products such
as video, television, audio
systems and so on. However, i
can’t see MSX becoming a
major home controlling de-
vice. It can handle a minimal
amount of security protection
and so forth, but it would need
a very different system to run a
computerized home. MSX is
best suited to the control of
video, audio and communica-
tion devices.

How long before MSX be-
comes the standard in com-
puting?

It already is a standard, of
sorts, and we will be devoting
all our energies to making it
more and more so. We are
committed to MSX.

By now it was we it past two in
the morning in Tokyo. Kay had
an early flight to catch, for
another MSX meeting
another country. IH

‘Standardization is not
as important as aii that
- it is the separation of
software and hardware

that is the most
crucial ingredient
ofMSjC

★ Toshiba HX-10, plus cassette data recorder, plus Toshiba
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Tel: (0282) 813309

MEDLICOTT

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FOR

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Call in for a (demo!

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SHROPSHIRE
Tel: 0743 3060

Your leading Toshiba stockist!

COTTON COMPUTERS LTD
80 OUNDLE ROAD
PETERBOROUGH
Tel: 0733 49303

ESSEX ELECTRONICS
1 23 WOODLANDS ROAD
ILFORD, ESSEX
Tel: 01-4784083

Full range of Toshiba MSX hardware and software.

Come in for a demonstration

Your leading HX- 10 stockists

WEST END VIDEO
6 MARBLE ARCH
LONDON W1
Tel: 01-402 8661

No. 1 in Calderdale

FRED MOORE LTD

15-17, Southgate, Halifax
2-6 Commercial Street, Halifax
Tel: 0422 67763

1, Wellington Arcade, Brighouse

Tel; 719660

CHARLES H. SHAW

60a New Street, Huddersfield

Tel: 32443

Your leading HX-10 stockists

R. J. PRATT & SON
35-35a HIGH STREET
STEVENAGE
Tel: (0438) 312885

Full range of Toshiba MSX hardware, software and
accessories available. Come in for a demonstration

1ft

Pinpoint a square on
our grid and you couid
win a super Sony
outfit worth £6S0.

Just soive ten ciues

S omeone, maybe you, Is
going to win a super Sony
MSX system. All It takes
Is a bit of deduction, a postcard
to us and Lady Luck to make
sure you are first out of the
sack.

Up for grabs is the superb
Sony Hit Bit HB-75B, as re-
viewed in our MSX Versus The
Rest group test. ltisa64KMSX
micro with a built-in suite of
software, ali the features you
could want and worth around
£300. In addition, the winner
will also be getting the Sony
HBD-55 Disk Drive, a 3. Sin
format disk drive unit with disk
BASIC and the ability to store
360K of program. It costs
around £350. We're sure you’ll

QUESTIONS

1. Start at the hexadecimal

«

equivalent of 179.

2. Go two left if the HB-75B
has an RGB socket.

3. Go down the number of
keys on the cursor keypad.

4. Go right the number of
letters on the red key on the Hit
Bit.

5. Go up the number of tone
channels on an MSX micro.

6. Go left the number of bits in
a nibble.

7. Go diagonally South-East
the equivalent of binary 101.

8. Go up the number of shift
keys on the Hit Bit.

9. Go left the number of Sony
Joystick models.

10. Go two up, three right,
one down.

agree that it is a superb prize.

To win, you’ll need to have
your wits about you. See that
ten by ten grid of squares? One
of those squares contains the
prize, and we want to know the
letter/number co-ordinates of
that square.

We're not leaving it entirely
to guesswork. There is a sequ-
ence of ten instructions that
will pinpoint the square exact-
ly. You just have to make sense
of the instructions.

The first instruction gives
you a starting place. The rest
send you on a path through the

squares, with the last one you
reach the answer we want.
You’ll find all the answers
either in this issue or by
applying the principles out-
lined invariousarticles. Even if
you know nothing about com-
puters, you should be able to
work out the solution.

Once you have worked out an
answer, write it on the back of a
post card and send it off to us.
Don’t forget to write your name
and address on the post card
too. We’ll accept entries up
until last post of 31st May,
1985.

8

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TO ENTER

One square on the coded grid
contains the prize. Directions
to find that square are given by
the ten questions. Answer
them correctly, follow the in-
structions and you will end up
at the right square.

Write the co-ordinates of
that square on the back of a
postcard and send it to:

Sony MSX Competition,

What MSX?,

38-42 Hampton Road,
Teddington,

Middlesex TWll OJE.

All entries must reach us by
last post of 31st May, 1985.

The first correct entry drawn
after that date wins the prize.

RULES

1. Entries should be on a
postcard clearly marked with
the name and address of the
entrant.

2. ASonyHitBitHB-75BMSX
computer and HBD-55 disk
drive will be offered to the first
correct entry drawn after the
closing date.

3. The judges’ decision is
final and no correspondence
will be entered into.

4. The competition is not
open to employees of Haymar-
ket Publishing, their agents or
suppliers, nor the employees
of companies participating in
the competition. No overseas
entries can be accepted.

■'i &

select

STOP

CLS

HOME

INS

Control and cursor keys are bunched together on the right hand side

S ynthesizers have been
enjoying a boom in recent
years. The best, with
every conceivable musical and
electronic feature, have
changed the face of modem
music. Mass market models
have become less and less
costly, yet pack more and more
in. Then there has been the
boom in home computers, with
many mnning musically orien-
tated programs.

Even so, home computers
have stayed home computers
and synthesizers have stayed
synthesizers. Yamaha are
changing all that, with their
CX-5M MSX computer, priced
at around £449. It is a full
blooded synthesizer and a 32K
MSX computer. Despite the
high price, Yamaha are selling
all they can get their hands on.

The synthesizer element
makes the CX-5M a radically
different proposition from,
other MSX computers. The
difference is the built-in synth,
called an FM Sound Synth-
esizer.

In addition to the computing
powers of the MSX part of the
CX-5M and its musical abili-
ties, Yamaha buyers can also
add a range of musical
peripherals. These include two
keyboards and four cartridge-
based programs. With these
you can compose music, ex-
pand the sound commands of
MSX BASIC, generate new
sounds or interface the CX-5M
to Yamaha’s DX-7 synthesizer.
Those of us with a musica I bent
will be drawn to the Yamaha
like bees to a honey pot.

In examining the CX-5M, we
have to look not only at its
abilities as an MSX micro, but
also at the features of the
synthesizer unit. We've also

tried out the cartridge pro-
grams, as anyone interested in
the CX-5M will almost certainly
be interested in the programs.

Prices break down as fol-
lows.

Yamaha CX-5M £449

YK-01 mini keyboard £85
YK-lOstandard keyboard

£165

YRM-IOIFM MusicComposer

£36

YRM-102 FM Voicing Program

£36

YRM-103 DX-7 Voicing Pro-
gram £36

YRM-104 FM Music Macro £36

To use the Yamaha as any
sort of musical instrument,
you’ll need a keyboard. That
means a minimum spend of
£534. For that amount you
cou Id buy a top 64K MSX m icro
and a pretty good portable
synthesizer from the Casio
range. The CX-5M needs to be
good to justify its price.

It is.

‘Those of us with a
musical bent will be
drawn to the Yamaha

like bees to

a honeypot’

You can buy the CX-5M
without a keyboard, though
most dealers will be keen to
sell you a two box package.
Let’s see what’s in the compu-
ter box first.

The box contains the CX-5M,
a large transformer unit, an
owner’s manual, a BASIC
manual, RF and remote cas-
sette leads. At first glance, it
seems like a fairly normal
package.

As MSX computers go, the
CX-5M is not quite as well
specified as the rivals. For a
start, itislimitedto32Kofuser
memory. That means it won’t
be able to run MSX-DOS, or
CP/M software for business
applications. You may also
find that some commercial
games will need more than
32K of memory, thus restrict-
ing your software choice. Word
processors and data bases wi 1 1
store less data too. Sti 1 1 , for the
average home user, 32K is not
a major limitation, and we
rather suspect that the Yama-
ha will be bought for its music-

al, rather than computing
power.

The main body is on a par
with other MSX m icros asf ar as
size goes, despite the large
external transformer that
plugs securely into the back of
the keyboard section. The size
is because of the FM music
synthesizer in the computer.

A metal plate on the base of
the CX-5M coves the synth-
esizer gubbins, a PCB some
11cm square with five sockets
to reach the outside world. No,
the unit cannot be fitted to
other MSX computers.

The synthesizer has an
oblong, 20 pin socket for the
keyboard, two phono sockets
for output of the left and right
sound channels plus two five
pin DIN sockets for MIDI inter-
facing.

Apart from these extra
goodies, the CX-5M is similar
to other MSX machines.

It is finished in shades of
grey with white printing on the
keys. There are 48 alpha-
numeric keys, including a
blank key that gives European
accents if used in conjunction
with the SELECT key.

The five function keys I ine up
above the keyboard. Shift keys

What you see on screen with the FM Voicing program, as dumped to a Toshiba HX-P550 printer

Score printed out and written with the FM Music Composer program

are oversize and the return key
easily found. The CAPS key has
a built in engaged light.

Cursor control keys are clus-
tered on the right. Left and
right keys are large enough,
the up and down keys are
normal keys. For hard, fast
games playing, it is not a
terribly satisfactory arrange-
ment, and a joystick will be a
useful buy. Still, for use with
the music programs, the cursor
keys are quite good enough.

Above them is a cluster of
five control keys, including the
STOP key. One-handed press-
ing of CTRL and STOP is a
physical impossibility.

All the keys are nicely sculp-
ted and the entire keyboard is
at a comfortable angle. There
is a little give to it, detracting
from the overall appeal. As
MSX keyboards go, the Yama-
ha is not quite up with the best.

Synthesizer connections
aside, it comes up a little
poorly too in the interface
stakes. On the right you'll find
the usual two nine-pin Joystick
ports. The back has a socket for
the transformer, RF, video and
audio phono sockets and an
Amphenol type Centronics
printer socket. That’s all
standard.

So too is the cartridge port
on the top of the casing. It has
an internal reset switch so that
inserting a cartridge wil I cause
the computer to momentarily
switch off and thus not damage
the cartridge.

There is no second cartridge
slot. On the back there is an
edge connector with 50 con-
tacts. To use a second car-
tridge or cartridge-fit peripher-
al , you wi 1 1 have to buy the £19
CA-01 Cartridge Adaptor. This
fits the rear connector and
al lows a second cartridge to be
used.

In use, as a computer, the
Yamaha performs well. The
separate transformer keeps
very cool indeed, even though
it is a rather thirsty beast,
consuming SOW of power. The

64K Sanyo MPC-lOO uses a
third of this. Picture and sound
quality is as good as monitors,
TVs, amplifiers and the like
allow.

*¥3013113 owners may

come to rue the

omission of a second
expansion port’

Documentation is more con-
cerned with the musical
aspects of the CX-5M. The
Owner’s Manual explains the
keyboard, setting up and how
to use a cassette recorder. The
BASIC manual isa command by
command guide to MSX BASIC,
with little on how to program. If
you wantto learn to write BASIC
programs, and use the com-
puting ability of the CX-5M,
you'll probably be paying a visit
to your local bookshop.

So much for the computer
side of the Yamaha. Though it
may not be a match forthe 64K
rivalsasanMSXmicro, iteasily
outstrips them when it comes
to music.

The on-board music equip-
ment is called an FM Sound
Synthesizer. The FM stands for
Frequency Modulation, and it
refers to a particular way of
generating sounds that Yama-
ha have developed.

To access the synthesizer,

enter the command "CALL
MUSIC”. The screen display
changes to an array of five
blocks showing what noises
the instrument will make, de-
tails of the rhythm section and
so on.

The program is able to
generate up to eight different
voices, or sounds. There is a
range of 46 pre-set voices to
choose from. You can add
automatic rhythm and bass
accompaniments, record and
playback passages of music up
to 2000 notes long and output
a stereo signal through hi-fi , an
amplifierorMIDI devices. MIDI
stands for Musical Instrument
Digital Interface and it allows

different electronic instru-
ments to be controlled from a
central device.

Learning how to play it prop-
erly wi 1 1 take time, study of the
manual and your own musical
talent. When you first switch to
the synthesizer mode, you’ll
have BRASS 1 as the sound , no
rhythm accompaniment and
the keyboard split at Middle C.
That means that notes above
this will be sounded one at a
time,, notes below can be
pi ayed as chords of u p to seven
notes. This is known as the
poly/mono keyboard split.

The 46 voices cover a wide
range of sounds. You can
choose from brass, trumpet,
strings, organs, flute, oboe or
clarinet if your tastes are
classical. For modern music,
there is 'funky electric bass’,
electric organ and three elec-
tric pianos. DIY rhythm can be
supplied by snare drum, steel
drum, timpani or plain percus-
sion.

More unusual instruments
are provided too — harp,
clavinet, koto, zitar, vib-
■'aphone and bell. There are

Two standard Joystick ports are provided, above
Rear 50-pln Interface Is, unfortunately, non-standard

Power socket Is on back, top right, above phono sockets

esc

w

CTf^i

Sf- iU ' T

M

V»VA\V ^

Main keyboard Is reasonable without being an outstanding feature. A musical keyboard Is worth buying

even some non-instrumental
sounds, such as raindrops,
bird chirping, train, ambulance
and cow bells.

You can alter the keyboard
split to either reverse the poly
and mono halves of the
keyboard, or to give either
entirely mono or entirely
polyphonic sound. The only
thing you can’t do is play with
more than two different
sounds.

What you can do is add
rhythm and bass accompani-
ment, so your music can have
percussion, solo bass and
rhythm chords accompanying
it. There are six preset
rhythms.

Solo bass accompaniment
gives you a choice of six
instruments — two bass,
guitar, horn, brass and flute.

‘You can subtly alter the
nature of the sound, the
length of the notes
overlap, tonal brilliance
and so on’

The last four are also the
options for chord accompani-
ment.

Solo bass accompaniment
is automatic and goes with the
rhythm. Chord bass also goes
with the rhythm, but the chord
playeddependson which ofthe
fourteen lowest keyboard
notes is pressed. This restricts
the number of keys you can use
for normal playing.

Accompaniment can have its
tempo raised or lowered,
volume adjusted and you can
opt for minor, seventh or minor
seventh chord accompani-
ment.

So, with the FM Sound Synth-

esiser you can make very
sophisticated music with a
minimum of effort. You can
have a playingsequence saved
as you play it, and replayed
with you adding live keyboard
accompaniment. You can save
performances to tape, and
reload them (this is a slow
business, so use long tapes).
And , when you get more experi-
ence, you can subtly alter the
nature ofthe sound, the length
of the notes overlap, tonal
brilliance and so on. In short,
you can do an awful lot,
musically, with the FM Sound
Synthesiser.

The YK-01 keyboard is fine
for the home musician. It
spans nearly four octaves, is
55cm long and can be played
quite comfortably on the
knees. The keys are smaller

than those of a normal piano,
and you may want to invest in
the larger YK-10 keyboard if
you plan to play a great deal.

Once you get used to playing
the thing, you may wantto start
writingyour own compositions.
For that you’ll need the FM
Music Composer cartridge,
and a printer so you can print
out musical scores. The latest
versions ofthe programs work
with Epson-compatible prin-
ters as well as MSX printers.

The composer stores up to
8239 items of data (less if you
are using sounds you have
made up yourself). You can
write in up to eight parts, using
up to eight sounds, and easily
edit scores when they have
been entered. Composer is a
bit like a word processor for
musicians.

Notes can be entered either
by keyboard , by menu or played
in. To make the most of the
program though, you’ll have to
study a lengthy manual. A
knowledge of musical terms
will certainly make some ofthe
more arcane points clearer.

The first steps are easy
enough. Selects part, a music-
al key and a time signature.
Two staves are shown on the
screen, one treble, one bass.
Below that is a menu, with note
and other options, and below
that the part number, bar
number and memory left. A
command line shows your
input.

Inputting scores is a tedious
business until you get used
to it. You have to select the
length of note, down to a
hemidemisemiquaver (l/64th
note). You then select the
position onthe stave by moving
the cursor up or down, using
alphanumeric keys or playing
the note on the musical
keyboard. If you are entering
notes of different lengths,
you’ll have to go back to the
menu to alter the length.
Similarly, if you want to enter
flats, sharps, naturals, ties,
triplets, dots, rests or com-
pound notes, it is again back to
the menu.

Using the musical keyboard
is the easiest way to enter
notes, but it is not quite as
simpleasplaying a melodyand
watching it appear on the
screen.

When it comes to editing a
score, the Yamaha program
comes into its own. Use the
i nsert, delete and backspacing
keys to amend or correct your

music. You can clear an entire
part or voice with a few key-
strokes, overwrite wrong pas-
sages and copy bars to other
sections ofthe score.

In addition to conventional
note entering, the program
allowsthe full range of musical

marginalia to be used. You can
alter the dynamics from very
soft (ppp) to very loud (fff).
Individual notes can be
accented, or passages grad-
ually made to increase or

decrease in volume, to give
crescendos or decrescendos.
Musical tempo can be ad-
justed, notes extended or sus-
tain added. You can alter the
way a note sounds too, by
altering its voiced and un-
voiced length. Vibrato and
tremolo can be adjusted, the

volume of each part set to a
different value and parts fine

tuned or transposed on the
musical scale by up to 24
semitones. What's more, you
can make very subtle changes
in these factors too, allowing
far greater control than even
the most accomplished musi-
cian could achieve.

To make the most of this
program, you'll need to know a
crotchet from a quaver, and
take the time to learn its
features. Master it and you'll
easily be able to write very
complex scores. Even if you
aren’t experienced, it is an
excellent way to learn about
music in the comfort of your
own home.

The voicing program (YRM-
102) is to generate your own
sounds, and a must if you like
playing around with noises. To
use it, you'll have to learn
about howYamaha's FM sound
generation system works and
^pend plenty of time ex-
jDerimenting.

fc Up to 48 new voices can be
generated. The keyboard will
give the voice you are working
on and a comparison voice.

• • «

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This Is what the FM Sound Synthesizer looks like from underneath

Data can be printed out, saved
to cassette, swapped with
other data and copied. You can
alter all the parameters in the
voice, once you understand
how sounds are constructed.

On screen you are presented
with all relevant voice data.
The manual gives a good idea
of how to proceed and a few
sample noises to program for
yourself. But the real value of
this program only comes when
you start playing around for
yourself. It is not a program for
the average home musician; it
is more suited to synthesizer
players who want to experi-
ment with new sounds.

The DX-7 Voicing Program is
very similar but uses the facili-
ties and sounds of the DX-7
synthesizer for the sounds
generated. The main differ-
ence is that the DX-7 has six
sound generators, compared
to the four of the CX-5M.

The fourth cartridge is of
great interest to BASIC pro-
grammers. The FM Music Mac-
ro adds no less than 36 new
commands to MSX BASIC,
allowingthefacilitiesofthe FM
synthesizer to be used in BASIC
programs.

LIKES

Musical facilities
Cartridge programs
MIDI interface

The program takes nearly 9K
of RAM. It allows you to write
programs using any four of the
voices in the synthesizer, plus
a percussion part. Sound can
be output through the MIDI
interface.

The commands are all pre-
fixed by CALL or _ and the
lengthy manual explains them
quite clearly. There is a certain
similarity between the FM
Music Macro and the normal
sound commands of MSX
BASIC, but the Music Macro
can do so much more, and is
easier to work with. You can
pick and choose instruments
at random, generate your own
rhythm, fine tune pitch and
volume, play sections of a
track, list the available voices
and even output a synchronis-
ing signal to a cassette re-
corder.

For non-musical purposes,
there are three commands that

Extra interfaces for the synth — keyboard plug, MIDI DIN plugs and two phone sockets for stereo output

enable you to load to and from
data cartridges, if you have a
second cartridge installed.
You can of course combine the
Music Macro commands with
normal BASIC, and this means

DISLIKES

Single cartridge port
32K RAM

BASIC documentation

you can combine music and
graphics, or build super sound
effects into games. Unfortu-
nately, you won't be able to run
these commands on compu-
ters without the FM Music
Macro.

The only problem is that
because the program uses the
interrupt routines from both
the computer and the synth
unit, keyboard scanning is
slower than normal. You have
to be very deliberate in enter-
ing programs. It is all too easy
to press a key and not have it
register — an annoyingfeature
ofthe program. This aside, it is
a wonderful utility for BASIC
programmers.

Verdict

As you may have gathered,
we liked the CX-5M. As an MSX
computer, It has a few short-
comings, but as a synthesizer
for the home or even the
studio. It is a super instrument.
The programs are worth invest-
ing in too, though which ones
will depend on your interests.

There Is no direct competi-
tion to the CX-5M and the price
means It is likely only to appeal
to those with a keen interest in
music, if that sounds like you,
you’ll like the sound of the
Yamaha, and find It a
good computer as well.

YAMAHA CX-5M

£449

SPECIFICATION

1

CPU

Z-80A equivalent
(3.6MHz clock)

MEMORY

RAM

ROM

VIDEO RAM

KEYBOARD

TYPE

KEYS

32K

32K MSX BASIC
16K

NUMERIC

KEYPAD

Full travel

48 Alphanumeric
25 control keys
Cursor keypad

No

VIDEO DISPLAY

EXPANSION BUS
CARTRIDGE PORT
PRINTER
SERIAL PORT
CASSEHE
OTHER

RESET

DIMENSIONS

WEIGHT
POWER SUPPLY

FINISH

One

1

1 X Centronics
No

8-pin DIN
Keyboard socket

No

422 X 207 X 68mm
(W X D X H)

2.7kg

External transformer

TEXT

GRAPHICS

COLOURS

SPRITES

OUTPUT

40 characters x 24
lines

Maximum resolution
256 X 192 pixels

16

32

TV

Monitor

SOUND

GENERATOR

OUTPUTS

3 channels with
8 octave range

Mono audio output
2 X stereo .
phono jacks
2 X MIDI DIN
sockets

INTERFACFS

JOYSTICKS 2 Atari standard

Light/dark grey
case, dark grey
keys with white
lettering

SOFTWARE INCLUDED

FM Music
Synthesiser

SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES

1 video cable

1 cassette
interface cable

2 instruction
manuals

DISTRIBUTOR

Yamaha-Kemble
Music (UK) Ltd,
Mount Avenue,
Bletchley, Milton
Keynes MKl IJE
Tel: (0908) 71771

YOUR No 1 NSK CENTRE

SYSTEM

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L

WMSX 4/85

Wetakealookatthe
cream of the latest

MSXsoftware.

uite a crop of quality
Isoftware has been re-
leased since the last
What we have reviewed
here is the cream of the crop
and it shows that MSX owners
now have a wide variety of
excellent games, utilities and
educational software to
choose from.

We’ve chosen Manic Miner,
an exciting and addictive
arcade game to be our star
game. Our games represent
the best adventures, classic
and traditional games current-
ly available. In addition we
have reviewed a BASIC tuto-
rial.

All the programs are rated
out often and the screen shots
should give you an idea of what
the game looks like.

Manic Miner by Software Projects

Manic Miner is a classic in
every sense of the word. Brain-
child of Matthew Smith, it first
saw the light of day in October
1983. Since then it has never
been out of the best seller
charts. Now, aftera conversion
by Cameron Else, it can be
played on MSX computers.

You control MinerWilly as he
explores a series of 20 caverns
deep below suburban Surbi-
ton. Each cavern hasa series of
platforms and obstacles, a
collection of various and
humorous nasties plus a num-
ber of keys or other objects that
must be collected.

After loading, the pictures-
que title screen details the
various controls. A selection of
keys or a joystick can be used.
For some reason, cursor con-
trol keys are not used.

The movements are simple
enough — left, right and leap.
There is a game pause facility,
a quit feature and the volume
of the sound effects can be
altered.

Do nothing at this stage and
the game will go into a demon-
stration mode, showing off
each of the twenty screens in

turn. Use the wait facility to
examine them in detail, for
they are most amusing.

Each screen has a name,
such as Eugene’s Lair, Wacky
Amoebatrons or Return of the
Alien Kong Beast. The title
gives some idea of the nasties
in store.

Matthew Smith certai niy has
a perverse imagination. You’ve
heard the phrase ‘sweet six-
teen'. The sixteenth screen has
marauding sugar bowls and
sugar cubes to collect. In the
Attack of the Mutant Tele-

phones, you havetocollectten
pence pieces. The two Kong
screens have bananas scat-
tered around. Another screen
has predatory pacmen,
another has snapping lavatory
bowls. Other foes include kan-
garoos, teddy bears, pen-
guins, ducks and eyes. In the
Skylab Landing Bay, you have
to avoid falling skylabs. Such
things add mightily to Manic
Miner.

Besides the moving things,
you also have to work out a safe
path to collect all the objects.

Hampering you are collapsing
or moving platforms. In addi-
tion, you only have a certain
time limit, indicated by an air
supply line below the screen,
f You get points for every object
collected and the time it takes
to clear a screen. 10,000
points gains you an extra life.
You start with three lives.

The opening screen has a
very fair rendition of the Blue
Danube accompanying it. Dur-
ing the game, the tune
changes to Peer Gynt's Hall of
the Mountain King, plus the
sound of your movements.

The graphics are excellent.
Sprites are detailed and col-
ourful. Movement is smooth
and sprite collision accurate.

An additional attraction is
that it is not impossible to get
some success in Manic Miner.
There is enough of a challenge
to keep you absorbed for
months, trying to get through
all the screens in the fastest
possible time. But even begin-
ners should be able to master a
few screens.

Manic Miner is a worthy top
game. If you haven't already
got it, buy it tomorrow.

Tennis

by Konami II Snowman

byQuicksilva

d

9

I

Wimbledon was never as
exciting as Konami’s new ten-
nis game. We are hooked and
guarantee that you will be too.

Three tennis game vari-
ations and three speed levels
are available: a singles match
with you pitting your skill
against a computer-controlled
opponent: a game against
another player and doubles
with you and a partner playing
the computer.

The tennis court is pictured
on screen with one end reced-
ing into the distance. The
umpire sits on the familiar high
chair calling out decisions —
LET, IN, OUT, FAULT and no
arguing allowed!

The players are women and
so you only play three sets. The
score board at the back of the

court automatically records all
scores.

Using either a joystick or
keyboard to control the game
you really do get the feeling
that you are playing tennis. You
improve dramatically with
practice and soon you find
yourself hitting lobs, volleys
and crafty corner shots.

The players on court look
amazingly realistic and even
Jump up and down while wait-
ing for a serve. A black shadow
accompanies the ball giving
you some idea of the ball’s
position, height and speed.

Konami’s Tennis is exciting,
very entertaining and a real
challenge. It’s indoor tennis at
its best.

The Snowman is a platform
game based on the children’s
book written by Raymond
Briggs. Therearefourstagesto
it, each getting more difficult.
The aim is to build a snowman
bycollectingsnowflakes. Once
he is built his eyes, scarf and
other bits have to be collected.
That takes two more stages.
When he is complete, you must
stop him from melting by
collecting six ice cubes.

Throughout the game food
such as turkey and Christmas
pudding must be eaten to stay
a I ive . A bar at the bottom of the
screen shows how much en-
ergy remains. Run out of food
and you lose one of your three
lives.

Care has to be taken in case

the little man falls off. If this
happensan angel appearswith
a bed onto which he falls. All
through the game there are of
course enemies. For example
little gas flames try to melt the
snow which you need to build
your snowman. An ice lolly or
alarm clock gives you 20
seconds in which the gas
flames cannot melt your snow
or the boy can hang under-
neath the platform until the
enemies pass over you .

The Snowman has a typical
Christmas theme to it, with
Christmas carols playing and
snow falling continuously.

If you like a challenge then
you will love this game.

A

r

1

L

1

I

i

w

Disc Warrior

Billed as an arcade adven-
ture, Disc Warrior is a rather
different game from what we
usually see. It is you against a
massive computer complex,
and your task is to destroy the
master central processing
unit.

On the screen you get an
almostthree dimensional view
of part of the playing area, with
a gridded floor and plenty of
colourful detail. You move a
white man around with either
the Joystick or cursor control
keys.

Your attacking weapons are
discs that boomerang back to
you. An area sensor shows
nearby attackers — robot
dogs, androids and floating
spheres. Damage is also done

bvAlligata

by force fields and electric
floor panels. A bar below the
screen shows how much ener-
gy you have left.

Besides staying alive, you
have to collect various objects
to help you in your mission.
These include keys, a bomb,
energy cells and rubber boots.
Getting from one area of the
maze to another is by either
walking, teleporting or using a
travel disc.

With good graphics and
sound and a massive maze to
explore, Disc Warrior will keep
you wandering away for ages.
Mapping will help you reach
your goal, but we can guaran-
tee you’ll find Disc Warrior a
match for your skills.

Chuckle Egg

by A&F Software

' 1

1

7

i

A

k.

W

One of the most popular
platform games has been
Chuckle Egg. This MSX version
is every bit as good as the
original.

It is a platform game in which
the object is to collect a dozen
golden eggs scattered around
the screen. Platforms are link-
ed by ladders and elevators.
Your little man can move left,
right or Jump.

Making life difficult for you
are wandering blue birds. Con-
tact with one is lethal. Sotoo is
not completing a screen within
a given time limit. You have five
lives to play with.

Loading is quick and reli-
able. Ajoystick or user defined
keys can be used and from one
to four people can play.

Po i nts a re ga i ned f 0 r CO 1 1 act-
ing eggs, piles of corn and

completing each screen. As
with most platform games,
each screen needs a particular
route. There are eight separate
screens, with an additional
yellow duck on the second
round, more blue birds and
faster action. All in all there are
256 screens to complete.

The graphics are made of
only a few different elements.
Movement is smooth and over-
lap problems not too notice-
able. Collision detection is
accurate too. The sounds con-
sist of an introductory tune,
walking noises and pickup
noises.

Chuckie Egg is a most ad-
dictive game and a cl .^lisic of
its type. You’ll spend weeks
trying to master its many
stages to get ever higher
scores.

Hunchback

by Ocean Software

Mr Wong's Loopy Laundry by Artie Computing

Laundry days w
this. Mr Wong, the Chinese
laundryman, is trying to gather
his laundry. But there’s a
maniacal iron, deadly soap
sudsandanevilsackof laundry
after him. It all sounds ludi-
crous but it makes an excel lent
platform game.

Menus at the start let you
select one or two players, loud,
low or no sound and joystick or
cursor key control.

The Chinaman continues in
his current direction unless
you alter it.

You aren’t totally defence-
less. Firing gives off a burst of
starch that temporarily im-
mobilises the foe. Starch sup-
plies are limited, and if you run
out, you'll need to rush and get

a refill. You have three lives at
the start.

Laundry is picked up by
passing over it and carried to
the laundry chute. There are six
items of clothing per screen.
You get points for each item
collected and a time bonus for
finishing the screen quickly. A
high score feature keeps track
of your best efforts.

Graphics are excellent. A
spinning washing machine
adds to the effect. Sound is a
continuous Ragtime melody
that is decidedly catchy.

All this makes Mr Wong's
Loopy Laundry one of the
better, and wackier, platform
games we have seen.

m

7

' 1

1

Hunchback hasall the ingre-
dients for a really good fairy-
tale: the beautiful damsel in
distress and the ugly admirer
anxious to prove his love by
rescuing her.

Quasimodo, dressed up in a
bright apple green outfit,
starts off the game by bound-
ing along besides the castle
wall to the tune of Teddy Bears’
Picnic. The task in hand is to
negotiate 14 walls and rescue
the helpless female.

Burning cannon balls roll
towards Quasimodo in the first
screen and every time he
completes a wall and rings a
bell he gets an enormous
amount of points. If Quasimo-
do manages to complete five
walls and collect five bells

without losing one of his three
lives he gets a super bonus.

A time limit on each wall is
provided by a guard dressed up
in chainmail. Heclimbsupthe
wall at the beginning of each
screen and stabs the hunch-
back in the back.

Fiendish obstacles on the
walls include burning fireballs,
arrows flying through the air as
well as guards sticking spears
up through gaps in the wall. In
the higher levels everything
happens at once.

The game will only operate
with a Joystick, but should
appeal to all ages. It's a great
game.

by Kuma Computers II Spacewalk

by Mastertronic

Iga the overlord has plans to
conquer the entire country
using his Ninja assassins and
first on the hit list is the Kogan
castle.

Your role in the game is to
control one of these Ninja
assassins, suitably outfitted in
a red romper suit and armed
with Syurikens (star shaped
knives).

The action is divided be-
tween three locations: the
outside, the inside and the top
of the castle. As well as his
knives, the Ninja has one other
aide — Makimonocs or magic-
al scrolls that lie around the
castle and appear and dis-
appear at random.

If opened, the scrolls endow

you with magical powers. The
magic disappears very quickly,
but while it lasts it is very
effective for fighting off the
castle defenders.

The castle guards are a
pretty efficient bunch and you
will have to be extremely quick
to dodge the spiked cannon
balls, knives and various types
of ammunition they throw at
you while you're trying to chuck
knives back.

Negotiating the first two
levels was difficult but pos-
sible. The top of the castle is
another matter!

The sound and graphic
effects i n N i nj a a re good . but a
few more castle locations
would have enhanced the
game.

From the look of Spacewalk,
you'd be excused forthinking it
costs far more than £1.99.
Value is a keynote.

Spacewalk has you control-
ling a spaceman whose task is
to collect falling satellites and
return them to a spaceship.
Various obstacles moving
across the screen must be
either avoided or destroyed,
and the satellite must be
reached before it touches the
ground. It’s a simple enough
idea.

Control is by either joystick
or cursor control keys. The
space bar/fire button serves
another function besides
blasting things — it lets you
grab the spinning satellite.

Current and high scores are
shown at the top of the screen.
You can choose either to try

and get through as many
screens as you can (there are
sixteen in all), or amass a high
score by simply picking up the
satellite and then holding it as
you blast away at obstacles.
Four lives are available,
though if the satellite crashes,
the game comes to an untimely
end.

Sound and graphics are fair.
The sprites are a bit samey,
screen after screen, and the
obstacles not very varied. They
do pose a challenge though.
Action is at a leisurely pace,
with firing slower than you
might like.

For £1.99, this is a bargain
game but itwon’tgivethe same
amount of entertainment as a
good, normal price game.

Cubit

CASS: £7.95

by IVIr Micro

(

L

6

Cubit, a sort of three-dimen-
sional noughts and crosses,
offers confirmed arcade game
addicts the chance to pit their
mental skills rather than their
reflexes against the computer.

The game’s action takes
place on four coloured grids
which line themselves up on
top of each other on screen.
Each grid contains sixteen
squares in a four by four
formation.

You are given the chance to
play against the computer, a
formidable opponent, or a
friend and you can choose to go
either first or second.

The aim in this game of
devious cunning is to place
four counters in a straight line
either horizonta I ly , vertica I ly or
diagonally on the grids before
the opponent does. If you are

playing the computer you're
going to need some sort of
brilliant strategy because it
alwaysseems to win especially
with the vertical lines, as they
are d ifficult to see on the grids.

Either the keyboard or a
joystick will move the counters
round the board and every
move is accompanied by high
pitched bleeping sounds.

The lucky victor's winning
line is covered with white
countersand I WIN, YOU WIN or
A WINNER isannounced on the
screen.

The computer can be beaten
and once you've worked outthe
magic strategy, the game
loses its charm. But until then
Cubit is fun and extremely
addictive.

737 Flight Simulator

Written by a real 737 pilot,
this simulator strives for
authenticity beyond all else.
The result is a program that is
understandably complex, and
provides a great challenge to
budding aviators.

A lengthy manual guidesyou
through the theory of flying and
the controls. You'll need to
study it, as there are 22
controls to master. Joystick is
an option.

You can start at take-off,
mid-flight or landing stages.
Engine volume can be ad-
justed, and an input beep
enabled. You can also alterthe
stall speed, wind direction,
choose night flying or even
design your own airfield. The
display is of aircraft instru-
ments, some analog, some

byMirrorsoft

digital. On take-off and landing
the airstrip is visible. At other
times you see a map of the
airfield.

Take-off is quite simple. So
is flying around. In fact these
activities are pretty boring,
accompanied as they are by
only the drone of simulated
engines. Landing is the tricky
part, as you have to get the
right approach speed, rate of
descent and .centre on the
runway. Audible alarms warn of
danger.

Function keys are used to
good effect, though one criti-
cism is that response times to
key commands are very slow.

As simulators go, this one is
certainly realistic.

'

6

•

CASS: £9.95

All the best thrillers have a
chase along the top of a
speeding train. Stop the Ex-
press brings that excitement to
MSX computers.

A man is dropped by heli-
copter onto the top of the
speeding ITA Express. He has
to run up to the front of the tra i n
within a given time limit. He
can jump the gap between
carriages, move fonvards or
backwards and lie down.

Lying down is essential if he
is to avoid low railway signals
and knives thrown by pursuing
bandits.

Bandits emerge from car-
riages in pairs and chase the
hero. He can run fast, duck or

turn around and attempt to
karate kick them off the train.
He can also grab a ‘snake bird'
as it flies past, drop it behind
him and leave it to see off the
bandits. If he falls off or is
caught, he tumbles ignomi-
niouslytothe ground in a heap.
You’ve three men to play with.

The sound effects revolve
around the sound of a train.
Graphics are colourful and
chunky, in the Japanese style.

Mastering the game takes
some doing. Fortunately
events occur in the same
pattern each time you play, so
experience is a good teacher.
However, once you get the
knack, the game does lose
some of its initial challenge.

Sparkie

CART: £18

by Sony

7

i

Sparkie, a bright red bomb
with a long fuse, is treading a
dangerous path as he wanders
round a lime green maze
inhabited by little fires and
sparks.

Your task is to guide Sparkie
round each of the four maze
formations using either a joy-
stick or keyboard, incinerating
everything in sight with his
laser gun.

On the first level there are
three fires in the maze. From
these emerge little baby
sparks which chase Soarkie
round the corridors lighting his
tail on contact.

Once the fuse starts to sizzle
the only way Sparkie can save
himself is to douse it in a
bucket of water very quickly. If
he’s too late it’s curtains for

Sparkie. He has three
opportunities to save himself.

Occasionally part of the wall
starts to glow red and orange
signalling the arrival of a
lighter. Bumping into one of
these is fatal and Sparkie
explodes with a resounding
boom. Other deadly fiery ene-
mies include mobile pink and
purple flames.

Sparkie moves round
accompanied by high pitched
tink tink sounds and, once he
has negotiated the increasing-
ly difficult four levels, he goes
back to the slightly faster first
maze.

It's a great gj.*me — fast,
exciting and very, very addic-
tive to play.

Jet Set Willy

by Software Projects

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1

Manic Willy is reaping the
profits and has provided him-
self with a mansion and a
retinue of fun loving friends.

His troubles start when
Marie, his Italian house-
keeper, finally rebels after yet
another of his wild parties. The
unruly guests have left bottles
and glasses all over the house
and she won't let him go to bed
until he’s cleared every last
one. She stands in front of the
bedroom tapping her foot just
in case he tries to sneak in!

You have the task of gu i d i ng
Willy round the house collect-
ing the empties.

It sounds simple . . . but
believe us it's not! Each room is

filled with vicious ordinary
household objects such as
revolving chainsaws, and
these kill Willy on contact.

He starts off in the bath-
room, but his travels are not
confined to the house. Loca-
tions include the Banyan Tree,
and the Nightmare room where
Willy turns into a flying pig! All
the items he collects are totted
upon the bottom of the screen .

Software Projects have
incorporated a clever anti-
piracy device using random
colour codes and a compli-
cated colour chart.

The combinations of
humour, the number of loca-
tions and sheer deviousness of
the game help to make it a
brilliantly original and addic-
tive game.

Backgammon

Playing the computer at any
board game involving a bit
more skill than luck is a
challenge because the com-
puter never makes mistakes.

A demonstration mode
takes the first time player
through the motions and the
accompanying booklet sets
out the rules of the game
clearly and efficiently.

The Backgammon board
appearing on the screen is
placed with the two inner
compartments at the bottom.

You play with the red coun-
ters and to decide who goes
first the computer rolls a red
andbluedice. Ifthe blue dice’s
number is higher, then the
computer moves first.

Red and blue labels at the

by Electric Software

side of the screen represent
you and the computer. Under-
neath these are two three d igit
numbers. The upper one indi-
cates the number the player
needs to throw to move off the
board. You have the option to
play a set of up to 64 games.

Electric Software have
added some realistic touches
tothisgamesuch as a doubling
dice. If you land on an oppo-
nents unguarded piece it is
automatically placed in the
middle.

Thisversion of Backgammon
is a faithful representation of
the game and will give a
Backgammon addict hours of
pleasure.

1 ^

OOO

\ t ^
Ot

8

1

)

CASS: £8.95

Superchess

Superchess isn't one of the
most sophisticated chess
programs on the market, but it
is an adequate MSX version.

Seven levels of play difficul-
ty are offered. The first five
levels cater for the absolute
beginners to the most dedi-
cated players. Thetime ittakes
for the computer to respond
with a move varies from about
three seconds in the first level
to thirty minutes in the fifth
level.

The chess board is squashed
onto one side of the screen and
is a bit too small. The chess
pieces are relatively well de-
fined but are occasionally diffi-
cult to identify due to their
diminutive size.

All moves made are recorded

by Kuma Computers

on the left hand side of the
screen. Moves are made by
typing in the co-ordinates and,
if an impossible move is made,
the program indicates this with
ILLEGAL MOVE. CHECK or
CHECK MATE are also shown.

If you are really stuck you can
either ask the computer to
move for you or ask it to
recommend one. In the Analy-
se mode, the entire game can
be transformed. Castling can
be carried out in this'mode.

Superchess gives the player
a good game. It is simple to
operate, butasthe computer is
sucha logicallyaccurateoppo-
nent, the only way you will win
is to use a well thought out
strategy.

i

f

CASS; £6.95

Les Flics

CASS: £7.95

byPSS

X

7

f

i

Most arcade games give you
a clear idea of your task and
how to achieve it. Les Flics,
based on the Pink Panther
adventures, tells you only that
you must recover the Purple
Puma diamond. All the charac-
ters you might expect to find
are there — Inspector
Clouseau and Kaolin the Chef,
policemen and cars.

Life starts in a small town.
You drive to one of nine
buildings, avoiding police cars
en route.

Enter a building and you find
floors linked by stairs, ladders
or elevators. Various objects
such as daggers, food, money
and so on are scattered about.
Pressing the space bar or fire
button picks them up. Then you
have to figure out how to use
them.

To get some objects, you'll
need others, and you'll need
everything to get the diamond.
On top of that you must keep
energy up by eating food, as
well as keep pursuers at bay.

Points are scored for stop-
ping policemen and collecting
objects. You have three livesto
play with.

Graphics are restricted by
the small size of the pieces,
but colourful and varied.
Sound is varied too, with police
sirens, motors, walking noises
and so forth . The game demon-
strates if not played and has a
pause facility.

Les FI ics needs arcade skills
and some planning to master.
Onceyou getthe hangof howto
play, it’s a real challenge.

Special Operations

by Lothlorien

Snowball

CASS; £9.95

by Level 9 Computing

1

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9

1

Adventure game fans will
know the reputation Level 9
games have. Snowball is a
science fiction adventure with,
believe it or not, over 7000
locations to explore.

You play the role of Kim
Kimberley. It's your task to
save the mammoth starship
Snowball 9. Todoso you'll have
to solve countless puzzles and
extricate yourself from many a
tricky situation.

This is a text only adventure
— pictures would take up
valuable memory. Location de-
scriptions are detailed, so
there's plenty for your imagin-
ation to work 0 n . There's p I e nty
of humour too.

Inventing 7000 locations is
some achievement. To be fair,
many are described in identi-
cal terms and there's no need

to visit every location.

Once you get past some
vicious nightingales it is com-
forting to learn that there are
few vicious creatures around.
You can survive quite easily. It
is getting to other parts of the
adventure that poses the prob-
lem. Everything you find has a
use, but you'll need plenty of
imagination to divine the use.

The game vocabulary is
some 200 words, with the
usual game save, restore and
quit options. Handling of com-
mands is very rapid indeed,
thanks to some clever Machine
Code programming. All in all,
adventure games with a liking
for science fiction plots will
find Snowball hard to beat, and
equally hard to solve.

Described as a ‘graphics
adventure wargame'. Special
Operations has you in charge
of a group of commandoes,
trying to sabotage an Ad-
vanced Weapons Research
Centre. It will keep strategists
amused for hours.

There are three scenarios to
explore — a forest, a com-
pound and the complex itself.
You move around these fields
of play, exploring, finding use-
ful objects or clues and fight-
ing off patrolling guards.

The game has seven goals,
from the relatively easy to the
downright impossible. You
choose your goal and the time
you need to achieve it. You
then select a group of four
companions, each skilled in
two different areas. Skills

as d i verse as those of an actor,
a forger or a sniper.

With the right team, you
explore the forest, its lakes,
mines, pits and houses on a
square map. Combat takes
place on a larger scale map,
man to man. Discover the
compound and you'll have to
work out how to get into it. At
the end of the mission, you
have to get back to a waiting
aeroplane.

The graphics are blocklike
and colourful. Little sound is
used. There's no need to hurry
either, as nothing happens
until you key in a command.

This odd mix of adventure
and strategy is certainly worth
trying.

1

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f

i

Let’s Go MSX

Learning to program in
BASIC is notthe easiest task in
the world. Here's a set of four
programs that will certainly
help you on your way.

The tutorials are based
around four programs — a
simple cashplan, a book cata-
logue, a recipe finder and
some simple mathematical
games. More than tuition is on
offer.

Each lesson f ol lows a s i m i I a r
pattern. Key BASIC words can
be listed and definitions sum-
moned. A menu allows you to
select different areas of the
program, orto run the practical
part of the program.

Being written in BASIC, load-
ing is a lengthy business, and
responses can be slow.

A broad range of MSX BASIC

bySoftCat

is covered. Subjects include
variables, printing, arithmetic,
graphics, text handling,
sound, data and debugging
programs.

Each command is explained
atsome length. A section of the
program using the command
may be shown too.

Function keys execute all
commands. At any stage you
can call upthe main menu, the
glossary of terms, continue or
go back to the preceding
screen. It is a very user friendly
program.

The demonstration pro-
grams are in the main useful. If
you wanted to learn BASIC, this
quartet of programs will cer-
tainly help you on your way.

' 1
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CASS: £9.95

Dungeon Adventure

CASS: £9.95

by Level 9 Computing

_

9

1

The story so far . . .
demon Lord is dead and his
vast store of treasures is still
tucked away unguarded in the
Northern BlackTowerjustwait-
ing for a person like yourself to
go and rescue it.

Sounds a fairly simple task,
but unfortunately you wake up
by a river, hours later, cold,
damp and unarmed. Now your
troubles really begin!

Levels, in keeping with their
excellent adventure standards
have created a totally gripping,
and at times extremely annoy-
ing adventure game. Your
imagination and inventiveness
are tested to the full as you
wander through the nooks and
crannies of the Demon Lord's
old hideout.

To succeed with your quest
you will have to retain a sense

of humour because time and
time again you'll find yourself
attacked by globs of carnivor-
ous Jelly, armed skeletons and
other ghoulish nasties.

As you wander around you
come across seemingly in-
nocuous objects and creatures
such as grotesque bloated
yellow birds with big ears,
sickeningly cute octopii and
corpses. Most of these things
do have a purpose and if used
correctly will help solve clues.

Don't expect to solve this
adventure in a day. It will take
weeks even months to com-
plete. The demon Lord has
been Jolly crafty guarding his
treasures and you'll need both
luck and ingenuity to collect
the objects.

TOSHIBA

available from;

JOHN REES HI-FI

Please ring for full details:

2 HIGH STREET
EAST GRINSTEAD, SUSSEX
Telephone: 0342 27787

TOSHIBA

A COMPUTER OF TODAY.
AND TOMORROW.

The M5X from Toshiba is the very latest in Home Computer technology. It's a
totally compatible system which accepts any MSX software programs in
existence today and to be developed in the future. You can discover
tomorrow's Home Computer technology today at Stuart Westmoreland.

Stuart uestmoreland

TOMORROW'S SOUND & VISION TECHNaOGY- TOCAY

OERBTs HINCKUY: OAKHAMs

67 St. Peters Street. Tel: 367546. 56 Castle Street. Tel: 637605. 2 High Street. Tel: 55600,

GRANTHAM: LOUGHBOROUGH : MELTON MOWBRAY:

49 High Street. Tel: 78108. 33 Cattle Market. Tel: 230465. 9-10 Cheapside. Tel: 64741.

Fora free demonstration of the Toshiba HX-IO come

aiong to:

BRADFORD ELECTRICALS
98 HIGH STREET,
EDENBRIDGE
KENT

Tel: (0732) 863153 or 862255

Come and try out the HX-10 at

A. F. SMITH & SONS LTD

2 STAR HILL
ROCHESTER, KENT
Tel: (0634)45184

JATALA ELECTRONICS
488-490 CHISWICK HIGH ROAD

LONDON W4
Tel: 01-995 8535

Stockists of computer software and accessories

Come and see the HX^IO at

JACKSONS
9 HARTFIELD ROAD
FOREST ROW

SUSSEX

Tel: (034282) 2885

For ait your MSX requirements in Bristot contact

HOOPER & SONS
26 SANDY PARK ROAD
BRISLINGTON, BRISTOL
Tel: 0272 775759

in Worcestershire

THE REVOLUTIONARY HOME COMPUTER!

ELECTRONICS

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Main stockists of Toshiba and many accessories and

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J & H RUSSELL
(Kidderminster Ltd)

21 -22 Coventry Street,
Kidderminster, Worcestershire

Tel : (0562) 2686

THE CENTRE FOR

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Specialists
in software
and associated
peripherals

TOSHIBA

48 Linby Road, Hucknall, Notts.

Tel: 0602 640377

MSX COMPUTING

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ALL STOCK SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY.

PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS

‘T'T T T \

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76 ILFORD LANE. ILFORD, ESSEX
Open 9-6 Mon to Sat 9-8 Friday

TaI- 01478 1307

01553 2587

vrsA

GOLDSTAR FC-M

Goldstar’s rear holds the usual array of sockets and plugs. Note the old fashioned 50 pin expansion bus and the Centronics printer port

The sprung flap protecting the cartridge port resets the Goldstar

A lthough the Goldstar com-
pany, producers of the
Goldstar FC-200 are not
as familiar to us as some of the
other MSX manufacturers such
as Yamaha, Toshiba and
Canon, they are a huge and
well established Korean com-
pany.

They specialise in electrical
goods such as fridges, freez-
ers and hi-fi and 1984's annual
profits come close to seven
billion dollars. The company's
influence and importance in
Korean is such that their con-
tribution to the Korean eco-
nomy makes up about 10 to 20
per cent of the countries gross
national product!

With such an impressive
sales record at home it was
surely only a matter of time
before Goldstar started pro-
ducing home computers. The
obvious design to use was the
established MSX standard
already accepted by many of
the giant Japanese corpora-
tions — Sony, Sanyo and
Mitsubishi to namea few. Asan
added bonus the development
costs would be kept to an
absolute minimum since
someone else had done all the
hardwork! All Goldstar had to
do was pay a licence fee and
build the computers.

Unlike mostoftheotherMSX
computers in Britain, the FC-
200 is not sold in this country
by its original manufacturers,
but by Microdealer, a British
distribution company. When
they heard that Goldstar were
planning to manufacture MSX
machines, they flew over to
Korea and expressed keen
interest in selling Goldstar’s
computer to the British.

Most of the Japanese com-
panies have developed
peripherals such as Joysticks,
printers and disk drives as well
as software for their machi nes.
Goldstar decided not to follow

suit at least for the British
market. They reckoned that
Britain's own peripheral and
software manufacturers would
be much better qualified to
know what the public in their
own country wanted.

The FC-200's most out-
standing feature is of course
its present £199 price tag. It
has always been the least
expensive MSX computer and
over Christmas the price was
lowered from the original £239
to the current £199. It’s an
incredibly low price, when you
consider that the Sony and
Sanyo MSX computers are still
retailing at £300 and on paper
have virtually the same fea-
tures as the Goldstar.

However, prices are falling
in Japan too and a Goldstar
spokesman confidently ex-
pected that we would soon see
MSX prices around £150,
albeit at the cost of the user
memory. For instance a Casio
MSX computer is currently
selling for £80 in Tokyo,
although itonlyhas4Kmemory
and a calculator-type mem-
brane keyboard.

Another important factor in
future price reductions is
integrating the chips. Kay
Nishi, founder of ASCII Micro-
soft, revealed in December
1984 thatthey were workingon
a VLSI (Very Large Scale In-
tegration) chips for the MSX.
So, by summer 1985 we may
see a 1 1 the MSX's sel I ing at very
competitive prices because
one large chip is less expen-
sive to make and install then
several small ones!

That's for the future. At the
moment, the British public stil I
demands a 64K machine such
as the FC-200. Although the
Goldstar may lack the panache
and dash of some of the other
more expensive MSX compu-
ters, is that enough to Justify
the wide price difference be-

tween the Goldstar and MSX
computers costing £100
more?

Dudley Langmead, Micro-
dealer’s Director of Opera-
tions, confessed that when
they first announced the price
they were rather worried about
the difference between the
price of their machine and the
other MSX's. Like many other
people they wondered whether
it could be anything to do with
inferior quality.

We have inspected the FC-
200 carefullytosee if quality is
significantly different from the
more expensive models, or
even the Toshiba which, at
£239, is the nearest competi-
tor in terms of price. But
consider some of the other
possible reasons for the price
tag.

A significant factor is that
the Goldstar company is not
part of the Japanese MSX
industry, which, while develop-
ing and advertising the MSX
standard, spent enormous
amounts of money and is still
recovering the costs. Korean
labour costs are much lower
than those in Japan and the
American dollar is playing its
part in keeping Japanese
machine prices up. These
reasons are reinforced by the

fact that Dai Woo, another
Korean company, will be re-
leasing the Network NW200 in
spring for £199, exactly the
same price as the Goldstar.

Accompanying the FC-200
are two cables: the RF and
cassette cables, two manuals:
operating and MSX BASIC and
two cassettes: a demonstra-
tion tape and Hoovermania, a
game from PSS.

While subtle good looks are
definitely not the Goldstar’s
best feature, it certainly isn't
unpleasant to look at. It is one
of the larger MSX models with a
two tone grey casing. The
corners are nicely rounded and
although the paint finish was
starting to wear off on our
model, that was no doubt
because it has been in con-
stant daily use for the past four
months. Four rubbery feet are
enough to prevent it slipping
all over a shiny desk surface.

There are 73 keys
altogether, 48 alphanumeric,
21 control keys and the four
cursor keys. The FC-200 wins
‘the most colourful MSX’ prize
with the number of colours it
has incorporated into the
keyboard. The alphanumeric
keys are off-white with black

Two Joystick ports and the cassette port are positioned on the right side

lettering and the function keys
are dark grey with white let-
tering.

The cursor keys are bright
blue and occupy a large area to
the left of the alphanumeric
keys, easily within reach of the
typist's fingers. Although not
ideal for games playing due to
their relatively small size they
are adequate. The STOP key is
bright red and the CODE and
GRAPH keys are both vivid
green.

The colour coding is useful
especially when programming
and anyone unfamiliar with a
keyboard will find the colouring
a useful feature. Newcomers
find it so easy to press the
wrong keys yielding irritating
time consuming mistakes.

Not content with the col-
oured keys, Goldstar have also
incorporated some useful red
and green LED lights to indi-
cate when a function is in
operation. For instance, a red
light indicates when the com-
puter is on.

The keyboard slopes down
and although the keys feel
spongy and click loudly when
pressed you soon get used to
them. The keys are in the
familiarQWERTYconfiguration
and are excellent for word
processing as they have a
slightly rough surface prevent-
ing fingers from slipping off.

A lotofthought has gone into
the design of the keyboard.
Apart from colouring certain
vital keys, the function keys are
situated along the top and
easily accessed when prog-
ramming or playing games that
use them.

Some aspects of the key-
board could be improved. Fora
start there is no £ sign, but
there is a $ sign! Come on
Goldstar, everyone knows that

the British use pound notes not
dollars!

There is a blank key on the
lower right hand corner of the
keyboard and if this is pressed
with the GRAPH, CODE and
CONTROL keys European ac-
cents will appear on screen.

The RETURN key is too smal I .
On some of the MSX’s, the
RETURN key is the dominant
feature as it is important for
programming, word proces-
sing and playing some games
with. On the FC-200 it's the
same size as the SHIFT and
function keys. The ‘-I-' sign, an
important one for program-
mers is thoughtlessly placed in
upper case mode. It would
have made more sense to have
swopped itwith a less vital sign
situated in a lower case posi-
tion.

A RESET key would have
been useful, but if you press
the cartridge flap in, the
machine resets itself. We
found this out to our cost when
we accidently pressed the flap
with a day's worth of word
processing on the screen! (Re-
setting it causes the title
screen to appear and all pre-
vious information in the user
RAM to disappear.)

Despite a few criticisms, the
FC-200 keyboard is functional
a nd j ust as good as some of the
more expensive machines.

The back of the computer
holds the usual array of ports
and sockets plus an interest-
ing extra, a little plastic plug
through which a new fuse can
be fitted without opening the
machine up.

Goingfrom right to I eft at the
back, the first interface is the
50 pin expansion bus.
Although it has the same
numberofpinsasthe cartridge
slot, cartridges won't fit into it.

Most of the add ons using the
50 pin interface are fitted with
cartridge-type connectors in-
cluding the Sony HBD-50 disk-
drive, the Sanyo lightpen and
all the memory extending RAM
packs. None of these would fit
into the 50 pin expansion bus.

If a user wanted to expand
hisFC-200'smemoryaswellas
use the lightpen he or she
would be at a loss because
there aren't enough compati-
ble expansion slots! Most
other companies have sensibly
dispensed with the old-
fashioned expansion bus and
recent micros have two cart-
ridge ports.

Next to the expansion bus
are three phono sockets;
video, audio and RF. If you are
intending to purchase a moni-
tor, it is worth remembering
that the FC-200 will only send
signals to a composite video
(PAL) monitor and not an RGB
monitor. Another point to keep
in mind is that if you intend to
use a monitor with a BNC
socket you will have to pur-
chase a separate cable be-
cause only the RF cable, suit-
able for most televisions is
included with the FC-200.
Panasonic are the only firm to
date to include the BNC cables
with their computers.

Next to the RF socket is the
Centronics printer port, the
fuse plug, an ON/OFF rocker
switch and last but not least
the permanently attached
power cable.

On the right side of the
computer is an 8 pin DIN
cassette port plus two joystick
sockets, an essential require-
ment if you plan to use the
computer for games, as some
of them have a two player
facility. All of these interfaces
are clearly labelled so even the
most absent minded person
wouldfindifdifficuittoplugthe
wrong cable in.

Above the keyboard panel is
the cartridge slot complete
with sprung flap protecting the

insides from potentially
damaging dust and other
foreign bodies. By the side is a
lightpen holder, a deep hole for
the pen to slot into. Unfortu-
nately when we tried the Sanyo
lightpen, the qnly one avail-
able in Britain at the moment, it
was quite difficult to operate.
We asked Goldstar what the
problem was and were told that
it seemed to be because the
Sanyo’s cartridge connector
didn't quite fit properly into the
FC-200’s cartridge slot. This
could be due to a piece of
plastic sticking out, but if you
wantto use a I ightpen with your
Goldstar, it might be a good
idea to check whether the
machine you are buying will
work with the pen.

So much for the interfaces.
The FC-200 has everything the
others have plus a few extras.
Maybe the insides hold some
clue to the low price.

It is well held together with
six screws. The computer’s
innards are all neatly arranged
on PCBs and held securely to
the base with more screws. The
largest PCB holds all the main
chips including the Z80 CPU,
video and sound chips.

After a hard days word pro-
cessing, the FC-200 tends to
get extremely hot despite the
grills liberally sprinkled on and
under the computer.

The operating manual
accompanying the computer is
a detailed and interesting
booklet full of cartoons and
illustrations, it assumes that
the buyer is a first time user
and explains everything: from
connecting the various
peripherals, monitors and data
recorder, the rudiments of
programming in MSX BASIC
and the functions of all the
keys. The other manual on MSX
BASIC explains what the main
language specifications for
MSX BASIC are and goes into
details about the main com-
mand statements and func-
tions of the language.

The accessories supplied

Hoovermania, the token
piece of games software is not
world shattering, but it is a
playable maze game involving
a hoover, broomsticks and
rubbish. Toshiba and Mitsu-
bishi are starting a welcome

LIKES

Low price
Coloured keys

Usable keyboard

trend by including high quality
software with their computers.
For instance Toshiba includes
three games worth £20 with
their HX-10. With competition
like that, Microdealer might
have to consider including
more software with their
machine!

Squares, circles and various
geometric designs in red, blue
and yellow are d isplayed on the
demonstration tape together
with some of the machines
specifications.

So far we have failed to find
anything to explain the Gold-
star's seemingly unrealistic
price. What about the sound
and graphics. Well we’ve play-
ed dozens of games on both
cassette and cartridge and

DISLIKES

Plasticy feel
Return key
Expansion bus

have never noticed any differ-
ence between their perform-
ances on the FC-200 and that
on any of the pricier MSX's.
Both the graphics and sound
capabilities of MSX are excel-
lent and games like Antarctic
Adventure from Kona mi fully
demonstrate these qualities.

Apart from testing the Gold-
star with numerous games we
have used joysticks of every
description and none of them
have ever failed to work. We’ve
used countless data recorders
to both load and save pro-
grams, and again we can report
no failures. Even the Sony disk
drive, the HBD-50, worked
smoothly. We couldn't find any
inferior operational qualities
to explain why it is the lowest
priced MSX in Britain.

As Dudley Langmead told us,
the Goldstar FC-200 is not
attempting to win any 'Comp-

The keyboard Is perfect for word processing. Programming Is aided by colour-coded keys and LED lights

uter Design of the Year’
awards, but sets out only to
fulfil the basic MSX require-
ments as cheaply and effi-
ciently as possible. We think it
does!

The more expensive MSX’s,
the Sony, Sanyo, Canon and so
on, although cosmetically su-
perior cannot claim technical
superiority.

At£225, the 32K Mitsubishi
is more expensive than the
Goldstar although it has less
user memory, but does include
£40 worth of software which
gives it an effective price below
that of the Goldstar. But it does
have its restrictions. For exam-
ple it won’t load The Hobbit (an
adventure game using up a lot
of memory).

Goldstar’s nearesttrue com-
petitor is the Toshiba HX-10
which at£239togetherwith its
£20 of software is Just behind
the FC-200 especially as it is
verysimilar inappearance. The
Network, when it is released
will alsobeastrongcompetitor
as it is the same price. If they
decide to include decent soft-
ware, Goldstar will have to act
quickly as otherwise they may
find themselves usurped from
their advantagous position.

Only massive price cuts by
Japanese rivals will threaten
the Goldstar, and it may then
get cheaper in response.

Verdict

As a family computer which
is going to get knocked
around, have tea and biscuit
crumbs dropped down it (we
know it stands up to this
ultimate test from experi-
ence!) the emphasis is on
value for money and durability
and you will find no better
bargain than the
Goldstar FC-200. IH

G0LDS1AR FC-200 £199

SPECIFICATION

CPU

Z-80A equivalent
(3.6MHz clock)

MEMORY

RAM

64K

ROM

32K MSX BASIC

VIDEO RAM

16K

KEYBOARD

TYPE

Full travel

KEYS

48 Alphanumeric
21 control keys
Keypad cursor control

NUMERIC

KEYPAD

No

VIDEO DISPUY

TEXT

40 characters x 24
lines

GRAPHICS

Maximum resolution
256 X 192 pixel

COLOURS

16

SPRITES

32

OUTPUT

TV

Monitor

CARTRIDGE
PORT 2

PRINTER 1 X Centronics

SERIAL PORT No
CASSEHE 8-pin DIN

RESET No

DIMENSIONS

400 X 260 X 63
(WxDxH)

WEIGHT 4 7kg

POWER SUPPLY

Internal, captive mains
lead

FINISH Two-tone grey

plastic case,
off-white keys
with black lettering.
Colour cursor, stop,
code and graph keys

SOFTWARE INCLUDED

1 Vacuumania game
demonstration program

SOUND

GENERATOR 3 channel with 8

octave range

OUTPUTS Mono audio output

(RCA phono)

150mV/10k0hm

Standard

INTERFACES

JOYSTICKS 2 Atari standard

EXPANSION
BUS 1

SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES

1 RF cable
1 cassette cable
Operating manual
MSX Basic manual

DISTRIBUTOR

Microdealer UK) Ltd
29 Burrowfields
Welwyn Garden City
Herts AL7 4SS
Tel: (07073) 28181

IW* -1* ,

I I I I I I I I I I I
1 ( i I i I I I I 1 1

v\ .s.'

IVlicro

Yamaha manufacture probably the most successful
range of electronic musical instruments in the world.
Their new CX5M Music Computer is no exception.

The CX5M is a fully-fledged MSX micro-computer
offering the exciting advantages of its breed; an ever-
growing array of standardised software, 16-colour
graphics, cassette and printer interfaces, twin joystick
ports and expansion slot.

But that’s not all.

Inside the CX5 is a polyphonic, programmable FM
Digital synthesiser that can be played with its own music
keyboard or, via its industry-standard MIDI port, control a
network of compatible musical equipment.

In 1984 Yamaha’s DX Series FM Synthesizers revolu-
tionised the voice of music synthesis with their stunning
reproduction of natural and electronic sounds. Now the
CX5 gives you that same musical fidelity simply by
hooking-up through your TV monitor or Hi-Fi system. For
the first time a computer is a real musical instrument.

Yamaha also offer a number of music-based software
ROMs. Music Macro for instance is designed specifically
for the computer hobbyist. It enables you to access the
CX5’s superb FM sounds from MSX BASIC and from this,
program games and AV sequences using music and
sound effects.

Or try the FM Music Composer Program which pro-
vides an on-screen musical stave for fully expressive,
computer assisted composition and arrangement.

So when you’ve completed your modern-day answer
to Beethoven’s piano concerto... you could always start
cataloguing your record collection, work out your home
accounts and discover why you have that overdraft at the
bank, or even just sit back and play the latest arcade
game!

V

See and hear the CX5M
only at the following
Yamaha Hi-T ech Centres,

musical

Yamaha CX5M - Outline Features

CPU - Z80A; 32K ROM; 32K RAM; 16K VRAM
16-colour graphics

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
Programmable FM voice generator (46-voice, 8-
octave, 8-note poly)

Music keyboard split & swap - voice and mono poly)
8-voice multi-timbral
Built-in real-time performance recorder
Auto-accompaniment with rhythm
Yamaha Software ROMs;

FM Music Macro
FM Music Composer
FM Voicing Program
DX7 Voicing Program
(Coming Soon)

RX Rhythm Editor
4-track Real TTme Sequencer
Price: From £534rrp (CX5M -i- YKOl music keyboard)
YKIO music keyboard (full-size keys) also available

Yamaha CX5M - Hearing is believing

Yamaha CX5M - ‘Hearing is Believing
FREE Demonstration tape. Fill in the

London

Rod Argent's Keyboards, 20 Denmark St, WC2.

Chappell of Bond Street, 50 New Bond St, W1
Chromatix. Oak Rd, W5
Freedrrians,629 High Rd, Ell
Future Music, 202 New Kings Rd, SW6
Gigsounds, 86-88 Mitcham Lane, SW16
G'gsounds, 22 Rushey Green, SE6
London Rock Shop, 26 Chalk Farm Rd, NWl
Rose-Morns, 11 Denmark St WC2
Soho Soundhouse, 18a' Soho Sq, W1
Syco Systems, 20 Conduit PI, W2
Addlestone: ABC Music, 14/16 High St
Barnet; ESS, 230 High St
Belfast; Baird Sound Systems, 208 York St
Bingley: ,JSG Music, 104 Mam St
Birmingham; Jones & Crossland, 6 Smallbrook Queensway
Musical Exchange, 89 Old Snow Hill
Blackburn; Reidy's, 9-13 Penny St
B ournemouth; Eddie Moors Music, 679 Christchurch Rd,

Bristol; Bristol Guitar Workshop, 157 St Michael’s Hill
London Rock Shop, 7 Union St.

Cambridge; Cambridge Rock, 8 Burleigh St
Cardiff; Musicland, 148-154 North Rd,

Chelmsford: Future Music, 10 Baddow Rd.

C olchester: Axe Music, 96 High St
Croydon: Rockbottom, 74 London Rd.

Derby: Derby Organ Centre 62 Babbmgton Lane
0 unfermline: Sound Control, Elgin St
Eastbourne; Peter Bonner, 12a Grove Rd.

Edinburgh: James Grant 53 Home St
Exeter: City Music, 4 Stn. Cres, Queen st.
fleet: Kingfisher Music, 20 Kings Rd.

Glasgow: James Grant 404 Byres Rd, G12
McCormacks 29-33 Bath Street G2
Guildford; Andertons, 91 Haydon Place.

Hadleigh (Essex): Honky Tonk, 300 London Rd.

Harrow: City Music, 14a Broadwalk

Heald Green (Cheshire): Sounds Great 182 Wilmsiow Rd.

Ipswich: Axe Music, 41-3 St Nicholas St
Leicester: Carlsbro’, 22-32 Humberstone Rd.

Liverpool: Frank Hessy, 62 Stanley St.

Maidstone: Sharon Music, 65 High St
Mansfield: Carlsbro', 182 Chesterfield Rd. Nth.

Middlesbrough: Guitarzan & Bongo Bill 23/27 Middlesbrough Road
Milton Keynes: Chappell of Bond St, Silbury Boulevard.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne: Rock Oty, 10 Moseley St
Norwich: Carlsbro', 2 Sovereign Way, Anglia Sq.

Nottingham: Carlsbro’, 11-13 Hockley
Peterborough: Stix, 603 Lincoln Rd
Plymouth: City Music, 29-31 Eastlake St
Portsmouth: Future Music, 104-106 Elm Grove, Southsea
Romford: Music Village (BAJ) 10 High Rd. Chadwell Heath

Sheffield: Carlsbro’, 720 City Rd.

Slough: ABC Music, 324 Farnham Rd
Southampton: Future Music, 85 St Mary's St
Sunderland: White Sounds, 181 Hylton Rd.

Swansea-. Picton Music, 9-15 Arcade.

Torquay: City Music. 65 Market St
Truro: (jity Music, 8 Pyder St.

Warrington: Dawsons Music, 65 Sankey St
Wolverhampton: 0 ie Way Music, 100 School St

Listing correct at time of going to press and subject to change

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

• MCXJNT AVENUE. 0LETCHLEY, MILTON KEYNES. BUCKS. MK1 1 JE
« (090B) 640202 24hr Ansaphooe (0908) 649222

Please send me full details about the Yamaha
CX5M Music Computer and your FREE
demonstration tape.

Name

Address

DEPT WMSX/4/85
Yamaha-Kemble Music (UK) Ltd,

Mount Avenue, Bletchley, Milton

IV/ILZI 1 1C”

How does MSX compare to
five leading non-MSX rivals?
We’ve been finding out

L et nobody accuse us of
being blinkered by MSX.
Only the most fanatical
MSX advocate would believe
that MSX computers were what
the world has been waiting for.
There are many well estab-
lished micros out there and
MSX computers will have to
stand up to some stiff competi-
tion. That’s exactly what we’ve
been doing — pitting a top MSX
computer against five non-
MSX machines. It is the ulti-
mate test for an MSX micro, as
it is vying with computers that
any potential purchaser will
also be considering.

In the MSX corner we have
the £300 Sony HitBit HB-75B.
It is currentlythe best specified

MSX computer, though one of
the most expensive. Leading
the others is the new, £130
Sinclair ZX Spectrum +, an
upgrade of the best-selling ZX
Spectrum. At around the same
price is the junior Acorn com-
puter, the Electron. A little
more expensive, at £199, is
another best seller, the Com-
modore 64. Next up is the
Memotech MTX 512, a £275
computer that has found

favour with enthusiasts. Final-
ly we have the Amstrad CPC
464, the price of £349 includ-
ing a colour monitor and a
cassette recorder. The MSX
computer is up against some
tough competition indeed.

For the person after a home
computer, such a range of
machines presents a baffling
choice. Price is one considera-
tion. Specifications are
another. They vary consider-

ably between the six rivals,
though all are adequate for
most home micro uses, and
have at least 32K of memory.
There’s the BASIC peculiar to
each micro to consider too, as
each uses a different dialect.
Then there’s the software and
peripherals available, the
documentation supplied with
the computer, the perform-
ance, reliability and so much
more. Choosing a computer is
no easy task.

In the end it is impossible to
say that one computer is,
without qualification, better
than all the rest. Each micro
has certain strengths, each
has some weaknesses. Our
conclusions are at the end.

SONY HITBIT HB-75B

£300.001

Standardization is the key to
MSX. Each maker uses the
same basic ingredients, with
possibiy a iittie extra some-
thingto spice up the mixture, in
the case of Sony, the iittie extra
is a built-in suite of programs
—an address file, a memo file
and a simple card file.

Inside the Sony is the proven
Z80A microprocessor. The
Microsoft MSX BASIC occupies
32K of the 64K memory. A
separate 16K video chip takes
care of the graphics, leaving
some 28K for user programs.
Sound consists of three tone
channels and one noise chan-
nel, ouyputthrough an external
speaker.

The actual machine is big-
gish, due mainly to the internal
transformer. In addition to the
18 alphanumeric, full travel
keys, there is a large cursor
keypad, five dual function
keys, 17 other control keys and
a red reset button. An on-off
button completes the top
plate.

Interfacing to the outside
wald is easy. There are two

nine pin joystick ports for
games players. Two 50 pin
ports take cartridges, for in-
stant program loading, or
accessories such as disk
drives. There is an RF output,
for sending sound and video
signals to a TV, a DIN audio/
video socket, an RGB socket
for a monitor plus a cassette
port. The printer interface is a
parallel Centronics device.

Two manuals are supplied
with the Hitbit, along with
cassette and RF cables. No

software other than the bui It- in
suite is supplied. That soft-
ware has no documentation,
but is very user friendly and
needs only a data cassette to
be fully functional.

Compatability is the main
strength of theSony. Itwilltake
any MSX peripheral or soft-
ware. MSX BASIC is an adv-
anced language too, with full
interrupt commands so that
Joysticks, paddles, sprite colli-
sions and soon can be incorpo-
rated into BASIC programs.

There is a fu 1 1 screen editor too,
to help correct programs more
easily.

Thanks to the video chip,
graphics are excellent. 32
sprites can be used, in any of
16 colours. There are four
screen modes, with a max-
imum resolution of 256 x 192
pixels. Text is 40 characters
per line, 24 lines per screen.

The Sony has more features
than most MSX micros, is well
engineeered and certainly pro-
ving popular.

|SI

IW

;uiR SI

’EC

TRUP

HI + £130i00 1

Starting with the ZX80, Sinc-
iair computers, more than any
others, have made home com-
puting as popular as it is
today, these British designed
micros have won tremendous
acclaim and popularity. The
Spectrum ■+■ Is the latest mod-
el. It’s a cosmetically updated
version of the Spectrum.

Like the MSX micros, the
Spectrum + has a Z80A mic-
roprocessor at its heart. The
BASIC is stored in 16K of ROM
and there is 41K of free
memory for user programs.
There is neither a separate
video chip, nor a separate
sound chip.

Sinclair BASIC is idiosyncra-
tic. Only one keypress is
needed to enter a complete
command work, and program
lines are automatically check-
ed for syntax errors before they
are accepted. The keys also
provide 16 simple graphics
characters. 21 user defined
characters and 22 colour
codes. This means that each
key has to serve up to six
functions, and learning to use
the Spectrum keyboard can
take some time if you are used

to a normal keyboard.

The keys themselves look
rather smart but they have
been known to come adrift
from the computer and merely
cover the membrane keypad of
the original Spectrum. There
are 40 alphanumeric keys,
separated cursor control keys
and 13 other control keys. This
is on a body that is just 337 x
147mm. A separate transfor-
mer keeps the size down.

There are eight colours
available for graphics, usable

as border, paper or ink. Max-
imum resolution is 256 x 176
pixels, with the bonus of not
needing to steal program
memory to get high resolution.
Text is 24 lines of 32 charac-
ters. Video output is to TV only.

The Spectrum -I- has its own
speaker built in, but there is
only one sound channel. There
are sockets for connecting a
cassette recorder and a single
expansion port, but there is no
joystick port. Two fold down
legs tilt the keyboard forwards

slightly.

The number of Spectrums
sold has established a col-
ossal base of software and
peripherals for the Spectrum
+ . The -I- , with a better
keyboard and with the price
including a pack of six prog-
rams (chess, scrabble, a word
processor, computer graphics
and two games) and a demo
cassette, make it an attractive
first time buy. The number of
Spectrums sold bears out that
cost.

I ACORN ELECTRON

Acorn made their fortune by
winning a iucrative BBC con-
tract and having their BBC
computer adopted by schoois.
The Eiectron is a cutdown
version of the BBC, at around
haif the price.

The beige plastic case fea-
tures a full travel keyboard.
Inside is a 6502 processor, an
alternative to the Z80A. The
BASIC is stored in 32K of ROM
and there's 32K of memory for
programs, in theory. In prac-
tice, screen displays eat up a
sizeable chunk of memory, and
the free memory is at best,
21K, at worst, 9K. There are no
separate ICs for sound or
graphics.

Acorn BASIC has a healthy
reputation. Some of the sound
commands are redundant, as
the Electron is not as well
endowed in this area as the
BBC, but the two dialects are
identical. Like the Spectrum
-I-, single key entry is available,
though commands can be
typed in normally if you wish.
Acorn BASIC also has an ex-
tremely useful PROCedure
facility, so you can build prog-

rams from small blocks. Add to
that a full assembler, for the
writing of Machine Code prog-
rams, many other commands
to call machine functions and
you have an excellent lan-
guage.

The keyboard has 42 alpha-
numeric keys, a cluster of
cursor keys and ten other
control keys. Numeric keys
doubled up as function keys.
There's no on/off switch.

Graphic modes enable very
high resolution indeed — up to

640 X 256 pixels at the
highest resolution, though
with only two colours. Up to
eight colours are available in
lower resolution modes, while
in text modes, you can get 32
lines of 80 characters. Fea-
tures like this explain the
limited user memory.

There's only one sound
channel , and a built-in speaker
emits it. Other interfaces are
limited to a DIN cassette
socket, an RGB port, audio and
video jacks and a 50 pin

connector. To connect Joys-
ticks, printers, cartridges,
modems and so forth, you’ll
need to buy an expansion unit

Plenty of goodies come with
the Electron. There's the sepa-
rate power adaptor, an RF lead,
a book called ‘Starting Prog-
ramming With The Electron'
and an introductory cassette of
simple games.

A fine BASIC is the main
strength of the Electron. For
computing students, it merits
much consideration.

On a worldwide basis, Com-
modore can claim to be the
best known producer of home
computers. The 64 Is the
mainstay of their range and
rivals the Spectrum in sales. A
multitude of software and
peripherals has been pro-
duced for It too.

The main processor is the
6510, again eight bit and a
development of the 6502.
Total memory is64K, with 38K
available for programs.
Graphics are handled by the
Commodore exclusive VIC-11
chip, and there is another
special chip, known as SID, to
handle the sound.

The 64's keyboard consists
of 37 alphanumeric keys, four
programmable function keys
and 15 othercontrol keys. They
are all full travel. The alpha-
numeric key have graphics
functions too. Two keys control
cursor movement, after a
fashion.

A separate power adaptor
keeps size down, though the
chocolatey brown Commodore
is chunky looking computer. It
comes with an RF lead and a
manual in the box.

Commodore's BASIC is pret-
ty atrocious, compared to what
else is available. To control the
sound and graphics, compli-
cated POKE commands must
be used. They take plenty of
getting used to. What BASIC
commands there are can be
entered in an abbreviated
form, thus speeding up prog-
ram entry.

Sound and visuals are excel-
lent, thanks to the custom
chips. Sound is output to an

external speaker. It has three
tone and one noise channel,
giving an excellent range of
sounds indeed. The graphics
are good too, with 16 colours,
up to eight sprites, all without
stealing from program
memory.

The Commodore has many
ports. Two Joysticks can be
connected directly. TV or hifi
can be connected too. To load
cassette programs you'll need
Commodore's own cassette

recorder, as the recording
method is different. For prin-
ters there is a serial port;
there's a user port for other
peripherals and a cartridge
slot for cartridge software.

In its standard form, the
Commodore is a fabulous
games computer. The BASIC
makes it less suitable fa
programming. But for running
custom software, the Com-
modore 64 is an excellent
proposition.

Memotech are a British com-
pany who started iife making
accessories for eariy Sinciair
computers. The MTX 512 is
their first computer and it is
aimed very much at the enthu-
siast. The emphasis is on
specifications and expanda-
bility.

The first noticeable feature
is that the 512 is in an
aluminium case of consider-
able size and weight, even with
aseparate powersupplyunit. It
is a 64K machine that can be
expanded up to 512K. Built in
is a Machine Code Assembler/
Disassembler and a special
language called Noddy.

The central processor is our
old friend, the Zilog Z80A.
There's 24K ROM for the BASIC
and 64Kfor BASIC programs, in
all graphics modes. That's
because there is a separate
16K video chip handling the
graphics, as in the MSX com-
puters. ByplugginginnewRAM
chips, memory can be upped to
512K, a prodigious amount for
a home computer.

The keyboard has 79 metal,
full travel keys. There is no

single key or abbreviated com-
mand method for entering
programs. A bank of eight
function keys is on the right of
the keyboard, alongside a
separate numeric keypad. This
incorporates four cursor con-
trol keys.

The BASIC is good. Special
commands allow up to eight
'windows' to be created, easy
graphics routines to be con-
structed and the usual prog-
ram structures. Noddy is a
unique language that makes

text handling programs much
easierto write. The Assembler/
Disassembler is for Machine
Code programming while a
Front Panel utility allows
machine registers to be viewed
or adjusted (for Machine Code
programming).

Graphics and sound capabi-
lities are similar to those of the
MSX and Commodore. Max-
imum resolution is 256 x 192
pixels, with up to 32 sprites in
16 colours. Text is 24 lines of
40 characte. s. The sound has

three tone and one noise
channel, output externally.

There are interfaces galore
on the MTX. There are ports for
two Joysticks, two RS232 de-
vices, a parallel printer, cas-
sette player, TV, a monitor, hifi
and more. Besides the power
supply and a very comprehen-
sive manual, two games, a
demo program, a blank tape
and a head cleaner are sup-
plied. On paper, the MTX512 is
well worth its not inconsider-
able cost.

AWSTRAD CPC464 £349.00l

Amstrad have made their
reputation in the mass market
hifi fieid, offering superb vaiue
for money, weii specified pro-
ducts. The first Amstrad com-
puter is no exception to this
mie.

The price is as high as it is
because you get not only a 64K
computer, but also a built-in
data recorder and a colour
monitor. With monitorscosting
at least a couple of hundred
pounds, you can appreciate
the value of the Amstrad pack-
age. A dozen programs are
thrown in for good measure.

Themainprocessoris,yep, a
Z80A. Basic takes up 32K of
the 64K memory, but clever
design leaves 42K for user
programs. The cassette recor-
der is non-detachable, the
monitor a medium resolution
model.

The advantage of the bui It-in
recorder is that cassette load-
ing problems are very rare. The
colour monitor gives a better
image than a television, parti-
cularly useful for avoiding
eyestrain. The only add-on you
might need is a Joystick, or two.
There is a Centronics interface

fora printer, a hifi output, RGB
socket and an expansion port
for disk drives and the like.
Using another monitor is not
possible unless you purchase
a separate adaptor.

The computer proper is
made of plastic. Brightly col-
oured keys adorn it. There are
47 alphanumeric keys, a sepa-
rate numeric keypad, a cluster
of cursor control keys and
eleven other control keys, plus
the cassette control keys. Dia-

grams show how everything is
connected together.

Amstrad’s BASIC is pretty
advanced. It has all you might
expect, plus some useful com-
mands for text or graphics
windows, interrupt handling
commands (to cause an action
after a certain time), sound
and graphics commands. Ev-
erything is well documented
too.

Graphics are well up to
scratch. The highest resolu-

tion (two colour only) is 640 x
200 pixels, or 80 characters
per screen line. There are 27
colours to choosefrom, though
16 is the maximum that can be
used atonetime. Sprites aren’t
provided. Sound is three tone
and one noise channel, with a
built-in speaker.

Value for money is the main
attribute of the Amstrad. At
£239, with colour monitor,
software and data recorder, it
is proving a popular micro.

it BE Al Ell^ AT Illy E

9rEliiiril#n.l IVIi9

Inside the Spectrum + Is the workings of the best-selling Sinclair Spectrum, based on the Z80A microprocessor

Despite the apparently
widely varying specifications,
these six computers do have
some things in common. They
are all eight bit micros, using a
Z80, 6502 or 6510 processor.
All have a total memory of 64K
or more, and 32Kor more RAM .
They are all capable of being
expanded considerably, and
with the appropriate software
could handle most game,
home or small business re-
quirements. In short, buy any
one and you’ll have a real
computer on your hands.

Memory is the most impor-
tant on board specification. It
is divided into unerasableROM
(Read Only Memory), holding
the BASIC and operating sys-
tem, and RAM (Random Access
Memory) for programs. In addi-
tion, the Memotech and MSX
micros have separate 16K
video chips.

The Spectrum + ROM is the
smallest, at just 16K. It has a
non-Microsoft BASIC, so com-
paring the standard of the
BASIC on the basis of ROM size
is a little misleading. The
Commodore has a 20K ROM,
and a much more limited
BASIC. Memotech has a 24K
BASIC while Amstrad, Acorn
and MSX have 32K of BASIC in
their ROM.

When a program is running,
memory is need for keeping
track of variable, handling the
graphics and so on. This can
take quite a lot of the RAM that
is, in theory, available. The
Electron, though with a speci-
fied 32K RAM, gives at best

Just 21K for programs, and in
the highest resolution mode, a
meagre 9K. In MSX computers
the 32K of BASIC overlays the
RAM, with the result that just
28K is available for BASIC
programs. For Machine Code,
the available memory is 60K.

Commodore has a similar
overlap system, though the
smaller BASIC means the 38K
is available for BASIC. The
other computers have discrete
ROMs, enabling larger BASIC
program areas. The Spectrum
has 41K available, the Am-
strad 42K and the Memotech
an impressive 64K. With non-
BASIC programs, their program
areas are not increased.

Don't be blinded by large
numbers though. You can get
very complex games or data-
bases of considerable size in
20K. The amount of memory
you'll need will depend on what
you want to do with your micro
— all the micros here have
adequate memory for most
requirements.

If you want good graphics for
commercially produced
games, don't worry too much
about graphics specifications.
Software writers of any stature
will use machine code, avoid-
ing any limitations in the
BASIC. If you write your own
graphics routines in BASIC, the
more colours the better.

Sprites are a useful feature
too. The Amstrad has the most
colours, 27, the Electron the
least — just eight. The others
have 16 colours.

Sound is more dependent on
specifications. More channels
will give better sounding
games and music. The Spec-
trum + and Electron do worst in
the sound arena, with just one
voice. A means of outputting
the sound to an external
speaker is an advantage too,
as the inbuilt speakers of the
Acorn, Amstrad and the Sinc-
lair micros are pretty poor.

When comparing specifica-
tions, look too for what
peripherals can be connected.
The Electron and Sinclairwon’t
take joysticks, for instance,
without an adaptor that must
be bought separately. In this
area the Memotech and MSX
computers score particularly
well.

Extras that come with the
computers must be included in
a comparison of specifica-
tions. The Sinclair and
Memotech have a selection of
software supplied. The Am-
strad has the colour monita
and cassette player. The Sony
has the memo/database firm-
ware.

Comparing specifications
puts the Amstrad and
Memotech computers in joint
first place. The Electron and
Spectrum -i- don't do so well,
while the Commodore and
Sony are par for the course.

Amstrad CPC464 has a data recorder built In. Sony has a
good cursor keypad, a reset button and an accent key

much the same variety of
sound. There’s a built-in
speaker on the Amstrad. With
the Sony, Commodore and
Memotech micros, sound is
through either a monitor or a
separate amplifier.

Programming different
sounds is easiest on the Sony,
thanks to the sub-language
that is based on normal
musical notation. The other
machines have you inputting
pitch and frequency numbers,
a trial and error process at the
best of times. On the Commod-
ore, you'll have to use the
BASIC sound commands which
are very limited indeed, and a
good knowledge of how the
sound chip works is needed if
you want to make pleasant
noises.

BASIC limitations fall by the
wayside when you see and hear
what is done in commercially
produced software. Our screen
shots show how the graphics
compare. It is immediately
obvious that sprites make for
smoother, more realistic im-
ages. High resolution can be
an advantage, though the res-
triction on colours is a limita-
tion.

In the sound and graphics
area, MSX is a clear winner,
particularly if you want to do
your own programming. The
Memotech comes close in
specifications and the Com-
modore would be an equal if it
had a better BASIC. The high
resolutions of the Acorn and
Amstrad offerings are useful
forcertain things, such as word
processing, but it is worth
remembering that an adaptor
to give 80 column display on
MSX micros is available.

Comparing the graphics abiii-
ties of the six rivals shows ali
the machines to be well speci-
fied, and each better in some
areas than others. Much de-
pends on whether you want to
design your own graphics, or
whether you want to leave that
to professional programmers.

Maximum screen resolution
is one limitation. The Electron
can show the most detail —
640 X 256 pixels, though that
is with only two colours. The
Amstrad does nearly as we 1 1 , at
640 X 200 pixels, though
again with just two colours.
Such abilities enable 80 col-
umn text display, of use only if
you are formatting for an 80
column printer. The Spectrum
-1- shows the least detai I of the
six rivals.

On some of the computers,
you have a choice of screen
modes. This determines the
detail that can be shown, how
many colours can be used,
what graphics can be used and
so on. On the Electron there
are seven modes. MSX and
Memotech offer four modes,
Amstrad has three.

When it comes to the choice
of colours, Amstrad comes out
ahead. It has a range of 27
possible hues, though only 16
can be used at any one time.
The other machines, bar the
Electron, all manage 16 col-
ours. Electron owners wi 1 1 have
to make do with eight colours.

Sprites (characters that can
move freely around a screen)
are a great aid to good
graphics. Only the Sony,
Memotech and Commodore
machines have them. The
Commodore allows up to eight
independent sprites, MSX and

will have the most hassle with
graphics, due to the limita-
tions of the BASIC.

Sound comparisons see the
Electron and Spectrum -i- bot-
tom of the pile. They have only
one voice and the sound is
emitted from a tiny built-in
speaker. The other micros
have three tone channels and
one noise channel, offering

Acorn’s resolution Is very high,
top, but MSX allows fine detail too

MTX micros allow up to 32
sprites. Sprites are much
easier to define on these
machines too. The Sony even
has built-in sprite collision
detection, to make BASIC
sprite programming easier.

BASiC graphic commands
are best on the Sony. It has a
whole language for drawing
graphics. Commodore owners

Commodore’s keys are marked with graphic symbols Spectrum has a bullt-ln speaker

While there are plenty of MSX home
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a heritage of years of experience and expertise.

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With a reputation for quality and, unlike t
MSX competitors, a factory entirely devoted t(
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Thp MPC 100 fp:5fiirpc imnrpc

One IS

ough to match its pedigree. 64K memor>;

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md Operable by joystick or light pen options,
:h machine includes a bonus of two free pieces
software.

Most MSX manufacturers have vet to prove

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ON

BASIC

The BASIC language In all
these micros bar the Spectrum
+ Is a dialect of Microsoft
BASIC, written to the manufac-
turer’s brief. BASICS vary be-
cause machines have different
strengths, different makers
have different ideas about
what makes a good BASIC and
experience shows what fea-
tures are likely to be most
appealing. Sinclair have de-
veloped their own BASIC, inde-
pendently of Microsoft.

When the dialects are com-
pared, just 27 words are com-
mon to all six languages. They
are some scientific functions
(SIN, EXP and ABS for inst-
ance) , the most basic of BASIC
words (RUN, GOSUB, PRINT,
LIST and so on) plus a few
miscellaneous terms (CHR$.
LEN RESTORE). If you wanted
to write a program that ran on
all six computers, it would
need to be pretty simple. If you
want a structured program with
graphics and sounds, you will
need to familiarize yourself
with each machine’s BASIC.

Judged solely by the number
of BASIC commands available,
the Commodore is the pauper
of the troop, with Just 63
instructions. Memotech and
Sinclair BASICS havejust under
a hundred commands. Acorn
feature 126. MSX BASIC
accepts 155 words, while top
of the pile isAmstrad, with 159
separate commands.

Of course there’s more to al I
this than just the number of
commands. The ideal BASIC
would have easy to use
graphic and sound commands,
the ability to incorporate
peripherals into BASIC prog-
rams, simple access to the
computer’s operating system
and fast program execution
times.

The most common method

of measuring the speed of
different BASICS is through a
system of benchmarks. These
are eight short programs that
make the computer execute a
simple function many times.
Thetimeto run each program is
noted, and times can be com-
pared.

Slowcoach is the Sinclair,
with an average time of
54.8sec. The Amstrad has the
fastest BASIC, averaging just
14.6sec for the benchmarks.
The Sony is on the slow side, at
44.4sec. Memotech and Acorn
have faster BASICS, the Com-
modore is middling.

What this means to you, the
user is that games or routines
written in BASIC will be
speedier on the Amstrad than
on the Sinclair, given the most
economical program struc-
tures are used. Stick to
Machine Code though and
you’ll not find a slow BASIC a
handicap. Machine Code op-
erations are much, much fas-
ter than BASIC equivalents.

Efficient programs are built
on efficient programming. Cer-
tain BASIC command struc-
tures make thisfar easier. FOR
. . . NEXT and IF . . . THEN
commands are in all six
BASICS. So are GOSUB and
GOTO commands. An ELSE
extensions to the IF . . . THEN
structure is available on all bar
Sinclair and Memotech mic-
ros. Acorn provide a REPEAT . . .
UNTIL loop and a very useful
PROCedure function. This
a 1 1 ows you to write a program i n
blocks, calling the blocks, or
procedures, as they are
needed. Amstrad provide a
WHILE . . .WEND loop, a close
relation to the REPEAT . . .
UNTIL.

Entry of programs is facili-
tated by a shortening of com-
mands. With Spectrum BASIC,

a single key press is used to
enter each command — once
you get used to the system it is
straightforward. On the Elec-
tron you can use either a single
keypress to enter a command,
or type it in letter by letter.

MSX computers have five
dual-function keys with ten
frequently used commands on
tap. Their function can be
easily changed so they could
input a frequently used com-
mand or command sequence.

A good editor makes enter-
ingand debugging BASIC prog-
rams so much easier. MSX
computers have far and away
the best editor. You can amend
any line, anywhere on the
screen, insertingordeletingat
the stroke of a key. Pressing
RETURN enters the line or
lines. The Sinclair system of
checking each line before it is
accepted is excellent too.

Memotech allow one line to
be edited at a time, with
insertion and deletion. Incor-
rect lines can’t be entered
either, as on the Spectrum +.

Memotech’s BASIC screen area

Spectrum has single key entry of BASIC keywords. It takes getting used to

When writing BASIC prog-
rams, error messages can be
vital. Most are pretty specific.
The Acorn and Amstrad compu-
ters print up not only the error
message but also the
erroneous line for you to cor-
rect.

Of course teaching you to
use BASIC and the computer is
the role of the documentation
supplied with the machine.
Standards vary widely.

The Sony comes with two
ringbound books. The first is a
very simple, almost patronis-
ing introduction to the compu-
ter and BASIC. By the end you
will have written some short
programs and know the fun-
damentals of the language.
The second book examines
each command in detail, plus
the interface devices. It is a
good combination.

Sinclair supply a colourful

Manuals for the six micros

booklet that looks good and
gives a thorough overview of
Sinclair BASIC. Commodore’s
manual is the least impress-
ive, being dry and not easy
going for the beginner.

Memotech’s manual is stuf-
fed full of technical informa-
tion about the MTX computer
and its components. The BASIC
is dealt with rather sketchily,
but the Noddy and Assembler
packages are covered too.
Amstrad have a good manual
too, and it is more accessible
to the newcomer. Acorn, with
both a book and a manual,
provide solid technical in-
formation and a good introduc-
tion to BASIC. Of course there
are many books written for and
about these six computers, so
any deficiencies in the accom-
paying documentation can be
overcome, at a price.

There are several BASIC fea-
tures that will be welcomed by
all programmers. The first of
these is a facility to automati-
cally generate line numbers. It
is found on MSX, Memotech,
Acorn and Amstrad micros,
absent on Sinclair and Com-
modore machines. A renumber
facility, to renumber programs
when they have been written
and debugged, is a feature of
the Sony MSX and Amstrad
computers. To ease debug-
ging, a trace facility is another
useful aid. It records the path
of a program, so errors can be
more easily located. You’ll find
this feature on MSX, Amstrad
and Acorn micros.

Whenyou’ve finished a prog-
ram, itishandytoknowthatthe
recording of it is uncorrupted.
For that you’ll need a verify
facility. Neitherthe Amstrad or
Acorn micros have one. A

AO

KEYBOARD

Acorn’s cursor
keys are found on
the top right of
the keyboard

Memotech has
numeric keypad
and a bankof
function keys

merge facility is another thing
to look out for. With this, you
conjoin two programs together
in memory. MSX, Spectrum
and Amstrad computers have
this.

Being eight bit computers,
the range of integer numbers
that can be handled by these
micros is from -32767 to
32768. Outside that range
exponential numbers are
us^from 2.9 x 10“^® to 1.7
X 10^®. MSX micros can
handle such numbers up to 14
accurate places; the competi-
I tas manage only nine accu-
‘ rate places. MSX BASIC can be
ordered to restrict accuracy to
six significant figures, saving
on memory.

Decimal is the most used
number base. Computers work
in binary though, and if you had
the Amstrad or Sony, you could
work with binary numbers.
These two a Iso you to work with
hexadecimal (base 16) num-
bers, and the Sony alone
caters for octal (base eight)
numbers.

All six micros store number
and string variables. The Spec-
trum -1- and MTX micros lack
integer variables, a more effi-
cient means of storing smal-
lish numbers. The Spectrum +
also has no time variable. With
the other computers, events
can be programmed to occur at
set times or intervals.

Comparing the BASIC lan-
guages shows that, speed
aside, MSX BASIC is very well
constructed. Commodore’s
BASIC is the most restricting
and Sinclair's has notable
omissions. Memotech BASIC
B let down on the mathematic-
al side. Acorn and Amstrad
I BASICS are both very good .

Good BASIC and specifications
are all very well, but an un-
friendly computer with a poor
keyboard can be a liability.
Facilities such as cursor con-
trol keys, reset buttons and so
on can make a big, big differ-
ence.

The Sony is well equipped in
this respect. It has an on/off
button to save pulling plugs in
and out of sockets. There is a
red reset button , giving a warm
start. To the right of the main
keyboard is a cluster of large
cursor control keys that are far
better than any other cursor
control keys in this group of
micros.

The all important return key
is extra large and in the
d isti nctive grey of other control
keys. There are two shift keys,
a caps lock facility and other
keys so you can insert or delete
characters easily. With the five
programmable function keys
and facilities such as automa-
tic line generation, the Sony is
particularly easy to write prog-
rams on.

Keys are slightly concave
and have a firm, positive feel
when pushed. Text entry with
the Sony is a Joy and it is a
product with a real feel to it.

At the opposite end of the
spectrum is the Spectrum -I-.
This has the idiosyncraticsing-
le key entry system, designed
to make life very awkward for
those not used to the system.
Keys are marked with a Jumble
of words, letters and shapes
and no colours signal signifi-
cant keys.

The individual keys are scal-
loped and a supported in such
a way that larger keys have a
very definite wobble. Keys can
come adrift too. Pressing them
gives a mushy sensation and
the whole arrangement is
rather sorry.

Cursor control keys do exist
next to a miniscule space bar.
There is no on/off button, nor a
power 0 n I i ght. A reset button is
found under the side of the
keyboard. Two legs raise the
whole computer slightly to
improve the angle of the keys,
but anyone wanting a compu-
ter for entry of programs or text
won't find the Spectrum -i- very
pleasant.

Memotech's metal finish
gives the MTX 512 a solid feel
and it is blessed with all
mannerof keys. On the far right
are the eight function keys,
though they are of little use
unless you incorporate them
into a program. The numeric
keypad is fine for entry of large
amounts of numeric data. It
has cursor arrows marked on
four keys, though this arrange-
ment is not as good as a proper
cursor keypad.

No colours liven the
keyboard and the return key is
noteasyto locate. The numeric
keys have control functions
marked on them, helping prog-
ram entry a little. There is no

on/off switch on the body of the
computer — a hassle if the
power supply is out of reach.

Text entry is quite pleasant.
They keys have a firm feel to
them. Program entry is not so
good, as lines are entered at
the bottom of the screen, and
transferred to the upper part of
the screen when the return key
is pressed. Itcan make reading
programs tricky.

The overall impression of the
Amstrad keyboard is a plasticy
one. There are plenty of bright
colours, a cluster of cursor
control keys, a numeric keypad
and the cassette recorder sec-
tion. The unit is long and
unwieldy because of this.

Best features are an enor-
mous return key, a power on
light, well spaced keys and an
on/off switch. The kit also has
far fewer tra i I i n g wi res than the
other computers, giving a
tidier desktop. Against this,
the keys have a cheap feel
about them and rather too
much bounce.

Commodore’s keyboard is
nicely angled and has function
keys on the right. There's a
power lamp, a large return key
and the keys feel good. The
four cursor keys are a Joke.
Still, for word processing, the
Commodore is well made.

The Electron’s keyboard also
has a ridiculous cluster of
cursor control keys. It lacks a
numeric keypad and other lux-
uries, has no power switch and
the keys rattle a I ittle too much .

On the keyboard front then,
Sony are out ahead, Amstrad,
Memotech and Commodore
are on a par and the Spectrum
falls well behind.

Sony’s keyboard has function keys and a solid feel that’s fine for typing

49

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timt

No prizes for guessing which
computers come out tops
when it comes to the matter of
software. Both the Spectrum
and Commodore 64 have be-
come f irmiy established as the
favourites with software wri-
ters. The iarge number of
Spectrum and Commodore
owners is responsibie for that
situation.

The Spectrum + is by and
large a games machine, and
has an enormous variety of
games available for it. What-
ever your taste, there will be
something. There is also plen-
ty of more serious software,
but the limitations of the
keyboard meansthatthe Spec-
trum -I- is not best suited to
things such as word proces-
sing.

The Commodore 64 has
attracted a host of entertaining
and serious software, and is
used for all sorts of applica-
tions. One problem is that only
a Commodore-compatible
cassette recorder can be used
for loading programs, and this
means some extra expense.
Loading times are on the long
side too. Still, disk based
software is available if you
have a disk drive.

‘The Acorn Electron
does, In theory, run
most of the software
written for the BBC

computer’

For the other machines,
Sony included, not nearly so
much software is available.
Software companies are un-
willing to develop software for
a machine that may not be
available in large numbers.
Without software, the compu-
ter has less chance of suc-
ceeding, and so less software
is produced and so . . .
Memotech have fallen foul of
this. Most of their software is
produced in-house and what
there is is either old hat or not
up to Spectrum and Commo-
dore standards. This situation
seems unlikely to improve.

The Acorn Electron does, in
theory, run most of the soft-
ware written for the BBC com-
puter. However, the 'Electron
runs at a slower pace, so
arcade games are not as fast.

Matchpoint on MSX, Chequered Flag on Spectrum, Pothole Pete on Memotech,
Manic Miner on Amstrad and Ghostbusters on Commodore

The limited memory left when
graphics are used is another
problem too. Electron software
is certainly around, but it is not
in the same league as that of
the big two.

Amstrad's CPC 464 has got
off the ground nicely and is
attracting many software
houses. Intimeitshouldhavea
large library of titles available,
both for games and for more
seriousapplications. Thestan-
dard is high too and the built-in
cassette recorder means that
cassette loading problems are
rare.

‘The big software
houses are aware of
the importance of
MSX and are busy
converting titles’

MSX is the newest arrival on
the computer scene, so it is
only natural that software is
still in relatively short supply.
Even so, most of the big
software houses are aware of
the importance of MSX and
busy converting best selling
titles to run on the new
machines. At the moment, the
main emphasis is on game and
educational software, as that
is where most sales are made.

MSX has two more factors in
its favour too. The first is the
ability to take cartridge-based
software, loading instantly and
every time. Cartridge software
is independent of machine
memory too, so can be very
complex.

The second factor is that
MSX opens the way for the
Japanese software giants to
get involved in the British
scene. Companies such as
Konami and Hudsonsoft are
producers of many excellent
titles and will certainly be
setting high standards.

Comparing software at the
moment thus puts the Com-
modore and Spectrum compu-
ters at a distinct advantage.
The Memotech is outclassed,
while Amstrad and Electron
software seems to be on the
way to becoming established.
MSX software is developing
very rapidly too, and providing
you don’t want thousands of
titles in every shop right now,
won't disappoint.

EXPANSION

Sinclair Spectrum + also needs an expansion device for attaching peripherals such as a printer or a modem or a disk drive

r

Memotech’s two RS-2332C ports can be wired In to give useful facilities

Commodore’s expansion bus Is of their own design but well supported

Acorn's expansion Is limited without an accessory expansion peripheral

The computer is only the
heart of what can be a large
system capable of doing all
sorts of tasks. That is why the
expansion potential should be
considered.

Black marks go against the
Electron and Spectrum + right
at the start. In their as bought
form, very I ittle can be added to
them. For that you’ll need an
expansion interface, and
these cost around £50 each.
Until you get these devices,
you’ll be unable to connect
joysticks, printers, disk drives
and so forth.

Amstrad aside, all these
micros can be connected
directly to a television set and
cassette recorder. To use any-
thing other than the supplied
monitor, the Amstrad needsan
adaptor, costing around £30.
The monitor is probably all
you’ll want to use though.

‘In short, all six
computers can be
made to accept the

most popular types

of peripherals’

Sony give plenty of inter-
faces. For better image quality
there is an RGB socket and DIN
audio/video socket. There are
two Joystick ports and an
interface for a parallel Centro-
nics printer. There are also two
general purpose expansion
ports, for disk drives, car-
tridges, communications
adaptors and much, much
more. MSXhasbeen designed,
from the outset, with expansion
in mind. In the future, we are
told that it will be able to run

TVs, HiFi, central heating,
musical instruments and such
things from an MSX computer.
At present, this is not possible,
but the track record of the
companies involved should en-
sure such things do appear.

The Memotech is another
computer with expansion as a
strong point. It can be ex-
panded internally to give up to
512Kof memory. There are two
joystick ports, a printer port
and outputs for both monitor
and amplifier. The two RS-
232C ports aren’t wired i n , and
that’s a problem. Still, enthu-
siasts will be able to connect a
whole host of goodies.

Amstrad have launched only
a few peripherals to date. The
CPC 464 wi 1 1 take two joysticks
and a disk drive, a parallel
printer, as well as sending
sound to an ampi if ier. A gener-
al purpose expansion port
should give scope for more
peripherals too.

Commodore have their own
interfaces, restricting the prin-
ters, cassette recorders and
such I ike thatcan be used . This
restricts expansion slightly,
but most peripherals are avail-
able. These include modems,
disk drives and cartridges. Two
joystick ports are a standard
feature.

The Spectrum -f has a huge
range of supporting peripher-
als available, thanks largely to
the ingenuity of product desig-
ners. The Interface 1 allows
joysticks, serial printers, mod-
ems and the infamous Micro-
drive units to be attached.
Spectrums can also be linked
together in a network.

Acorn’s expansion units for
the Electron allow all the usual
peripherals to be connected

up, including a disk drive,
cartridge software, printers
and joysticks.

In short, all six computers
can be made to accept the
most . popular types of
peripherals. You may need an
adaptor, or be restricted to
certain types of devices, but a
system can be built around
each computer.

MSX is, if promises are
fulfilled, the most expandable

machine of the bunch, and the
one to back if you are into
gadgets. The Memotech is the
most expandable in itsoriginal
form. Spectrum and Electron
computers will need extra
spent on them if they are to be
expanded, whilethe Amstrad is
a little short on peripherals at
the moment. The Commodore
is fine, if you stick to the right
peripherals. But MSX comes
out well in this field.

Sony has a standard expansion port, an RGB socket, a parallel printer port and two Joystick ports. Only RS-232 Is missing

Verdict

Now that we’ve considered
how the various computers
stand in relation to each other,
how does MSX shape up? Is it a
contender, or Is it outdated and
outspecified?

What is immmediately evi-
dent is that MSX doesn’t stand
for innovative technology to
turn the world on its head —

player. If you already have a
colour TV and a portable cas-
sette player, all you are really
getting is less wires. The
Commodore, Electron and
Spectrum -i- are good value
too. The Sony MSX is a bit
pricey, but it is a quality
product. Cheaper MSX
machines are available.

yet. It is also fair to point out The picture that emerges is
that MSX is still in its child- one that should cheer MSX

hood, and future develop-
ments may well be both amaz-
ingandtechnicallyfar ahead of
anything else. Remember too
that the MSX representative in
this group is the most expen-
sive MSX micro (bar the Yama-
ha CX-5M synthesiser) and
MSX micros with the same
basic specifications are avail-
able for £200 or less.

The outsta nd i ng areas of the
Sony and other MSX computers
are in their usability, graphics
and sound potential . Thanks to
a BASIC tailored very much to
home programmers wanting to
use the features of MSX com-
puters to the full, MSX
machines are the most user-
friendly available.

Both the Amstrad and Acorn
computers have BASICS of a
comparable standard, and
MSX BASIC suffers from being
rather slow. That is not a major
shortcoming as Machine Code
programming will give all the
speed you want.

Purely on specifications, the
only MSX failing is that the
BASIC overlaps RAM, leaving
less user memory for BASIC
programs. Again, Machine
Code users wi 1 1 not suffer from
this, and in all other respects,
the Sony is as well specified, if
not better specified, than the
rivals.

Expansion, on present form,
leaves MSX a little behind.
However, if things go accord-
ing to plan, you'll be able to
expand MSX in a way the other
computer manufacturers can
only dream of.

Similarly, in the software
field MSX is at present sti 1 1 too
new to be in a strong position.
Thesignsaregood though, and
we confidently expect MSX
software to be every bit as
varied and exciting as that for
Commodore or Spectrum
machines.

Value for money considera-
tions see the Amstrad as king,
if you want a monitor and tape

supporters. True, an MSX com-
puter on its own is merely a very
competent machine using ex-
isting technology. Against
this, the MSX concept is so
broad in its sweep that in time it
will have a profound influence
on the gadgets we use today.
An MSX computer will become
an integral part of the house-
hold — that’s the promise of
MSX. It is a promise that the
other systems won’t be able to
achieve easily, as the com-
panies are not producers of
other consumer goods. That’s
the strength of MSX.

Buying MSX at the moment
is buying a computer with a
future. At present MSX is stiii
getting estabiished, and if you
want access to a wide range of
software and peripherais, mic-
ros such as the Spectrum +
and Commodore 64 may be
more attractive. But, even if
you are buying just the compu-
ter, MSX computers compare
very favourabiy indeed. They
may not have the giamour of
the iatest machines, or the
foiiowing of oider machines,
but for the first time you can
buy a computer made for
everybody, not just buffs
and whizzkids.

COMPUTER

ACORN

ELECTRON

AMSTRAD

CPC464

COMMODORE

64

MEMOTECH

MTXS12

SINCLAIR

SPECTRUM+

SONY

HITBIT

PRICE

£129

£349

£190

£275

£130

£300

CPU

6502

Z80A

6510

Z80A

Z80A

Z80A

CLOCK

2MHz

4MHz

IMHz

4MHz

4MHz

4MHz ’

RAM

32K

64K

64K

64K

48K

64K

ROM

32K

32K

20K

24K

16K

32K

FREE RAM

9-21K

42K

38K

64K

41K

28K

KEYS

56

74

66

79

57

74

CURSOR PAD

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

FUNCKEYS

10

12

4

8

0

5

USERDEF

10

32

4

8

0

5

NUM.PAD

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

No

MAX TEXT

80x32

80x24

40x25

40x24

32x24

40x24

MAX PIXEL

640x256

640x200

320x200

256x192

256x176

256x192

COLOURS '

8

27

16

16

16

16

SPRITES

0

0

8

32

0

32

RGB

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

VOICES

1

4

4

4

1

4

HIFI OUT

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

SPEAKER

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

No

MAX BAUD

1200

2000

1200

2400

1500

2400

JOYSTICKS

0

2

2

2

0

2

CENTRONICS

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

RS232

No

No

No

No

Yes

No

EXP PORT

Yes

Yes

2

No

Yes

2

For those in the know

Anyone conversant with home
computers will know precisely why MSX
was worth waiting for.

The sheer proliferation of computer
and software systems flooding the
market loudly underlined the need for a
unified standard

So the major companies jointly
developed a single computer and
software system. The result — MSX —
the format that will be standard for all
time.

And those in the know will not be
surprised that Mitsubishi are in the
vanguard of the MSX movement. For,
with the F'Series, Mitsubishi offers
everything that MSX is and more.

GRAPHICS

Maximum resolution of 256 x 192
pixels with all 16 colours available on the
screen at the same time. 32 sprites in two
sizes and two magnifications allowing
easy creation of ‘3D’ graphics. 255
pre-defined characters all of which can
be used as straight text or easily mixed
with graphics.

L

• ^

EXPANSION

PRINTER

MONITOR

BUS

PORT

OUTPORT

SOUND

Three independent channels which
can be output through the TV
loudspeakers at any volume, individually
or simultaneously, at any of the available
8 octaves. All three channels can use the
‘noise’ generator for stunning sound
effects.

KEYBOARD

7 3 moving keys, ergonomically
designed for many hours of fatigue free
use. Large cursor control keys which are
excellent for both programme editing
and game playing. 5 function keys giving
10 pre-defined functions which can
easily be redefined from ‘BASIC’ using
the ‘KEY’ command.

MSX BASIC is possibly the most
comprehensive version of the original
language. There is a complete set of
commands for creating graphics and
sounds, manipulating text and moving
sprites. In addition to this there are
‘built-in’ interrupt routines for detecting
sprite collisions, function key selections
and joy-stick fire buttons.

MANSION

The Mitsubishi 64k ML-F80 and 32k
ML-F48 are both equipped with 2
cartridge ports, 2 joy -stick ports and a
centronics compatible parallel interface.
It is through these devices that the MSX
system can be expanded for use with
disc-drives, printers, serial interfaces,
modems and other peripherals.

SOFTWARE ON CASSETTE

The MSX system can load and save
data onto cassette at 1200 or 2400 baud
and unlike certain other home
computers, the Mitsubishi F-series can
be used with a normal domestic tape
recorder for this purpose.

When you put all of these features
together, with the knowledge that
Mitsubishi is the largest manufacturer of
Mainframe computers in Japan, those in
the know will immediately recognise the
true potential of the Mitsubishi F-series.

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For those who aren’t

The Mitsubishi MSX family
computer is everything you wanted to
know about computers, but didn’t know
who to ask.

It’s friendly, it’s fun and so simple, a
grown man can use it. Yet so versatile
even his computer-versed children
would be hard-stretched to over-tax it.

It operates with any colour TV set.
just plug it in, and the full power of the
computer is instantly at your fingertips.

FOR FATHER

The Mitsubishi MSX can do many
things, from keeping a simple check on
the bank balance to running a complete
business with customer account files,
stock control programmes and word
processing. It is just as much at home
keeping control of your record or stamp
collection or playing ‘strategy’ games
such as chess, othello or.contract bridge.

FOR MOTHER

education and entertainment.

And you can be secure in the
knowledge that regardless of future
developments, any investments made in
MSX hardware, software and
peripherals today will always be
compatable with the Mitsubishi F-series.

So if you’ve waited until now to buy a
computer, you couldn’t have timed it
more perfectly. Get to know one today,

MITSUBISHI
COMPUTERS

Mitsubishi Electric (UK) Ltd., Hertford Place, Denham Way,
Rickmansworth, Herts WD3 2BJ.Tel:0923 77(

There is the opportunity to store
recipes and other household information
or keeping record of the children’s
progress at school. Household accounts
can also be recorded so that savings can
be planned for holidays and other
seasonal expenses.

FOR THE CHILDREN

There is education, particularly
computer education. In a world where
computer literacy is now of foremost
importance, MSX offers a broad base of
educational software. With simple
programmes for the very young through
to complex programmes for older
students like language learning.

Also, the graphics system of the
Mitsubishi computer ensures that the
MSX versions of your favourite games
are reproduced with incredible
speed and accuracy.

Undoubtedly, MSX
is the format for the
future, and will
become the byword
for computer

SPECIFICATIONS

CPU:

Special keys for

Z80A(3.6MHz)

screen editing

Memory:

Sound:

ROM: 32 KB

8 octaves

RAM:64KB(F80)

3 channels for

RAM: 32KB(F48)

sound or ‘noise’

Video Ram: 16 KB

Output by TV sound

Screen Displays:

or External Audio

*Text Mode:

Amplifier

40 columns x24

Cassette

lines

Interface:

^Graphics:

1200-2400 baud

256 X 192 pixels

Motor controlled

Colours: 16

by CPU

(15+transparent)

Parallel

Sprites: 32

Interface:

Output: RF,

Centronics

Composite Video

Joy*Stick:

Keyboard:

2x 9 pin

73 moving-key

connectors

keyboard

Rom-Cartridge:

5 function keys

2 X 50 pin

Cursor control keys

connector

*Subiect to Scan of Monitor

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MITSUBISHI

There’s no shortage of Interfaces along the back of the ML-F48. Grill Is for cooling, but It looks good too. Note the cover on the cartridge port

Cursor keypad Is fine for games players — the keys are this size

B ritons, It is thought, are
obsessed by numbers.
That’s why, when the
Japanese were planning their
MSX invasion, they were con-
vinced that only computers
with 64K of memory had a
chance of selling. One
company, Mitsubishi Electric,
weren’t quite so sure of this
though, and they have hedged
their bets by bringing in a less
expensive 32K MSX computer,
the ML-F48.

In Japan there is nothing
sacrosanct about the 64K
computer. In fact, 64K is the
exception rather than the
norm. Most of the MSX
machines on sale are 16K or
32K, and there is even an 8K
Casio computer. A shortage of
memory certainly hasn't ham-
pered sales.

In the UK, 64K machines
started arriving with price tags
of around £300, though non-
Japanese 64K machines could
be bought for less. The £300
price has been a bit of a
handicap, with the most popu-
lar non-MSX micros priced at
£200 or less. The ML-F48 is
priced at a more affordable
£225 and comes with £45
worth of free games software.

It has all the features and
frills of its ML-F80 big brother.
What it’s not got is 64Kof RAM .
The question in the minds of
potential purchasers will be
"What does this shortage of
memory mean?"

To look at the ML-F48,
there’s little to make you think
it was any different to other
MSX computers. Cosmetically
it differs dramatically from the
64K version, though the cas-
ings are identical.

The 64K Mitsubishi is
finished in pedestrian black
with white and grey keys. The
32K version has a snappy si I ver
case, emblazoned with a black
band and with keys i n off-white

or mid-grey. To our eyes it is
certainly one of the better
looking MSX machines avail-
able.

It is supplied with a remote
control cassette lead, an RF
lead to connect to the TV’s
aerial socket, a sumptuous
304 page manual and a com-
plementary cassette with two
games and a demo program on
it. There’s also that six pack of
popular games.

‘To our eyes It Is

certainly one of the
better looking MSX
machines available’

The manual doubles up for
the two computers. At no point
does it indicate any different
procedures for the 32K
machine. At this stage, you
must be beginning to thinkthat
there is no difference, except
inonespecificationandaprice
figure.

Powering up tends to con-

firm this. The message ‘28815
Bytes free’ appears in white
letters on the blue screen.
That’s the same message as
you’ll get from a 64KMSXwhen
it is switched on. Something
fishy is going on.

It is all to do with how the
available memory is used. For
that, it is necessary to delve
into the interior of the Mitsu-
bishi.

Six screws hold the top on.
Inside is a neat, well-assem-
bled col lection of silicon chips,
resistors, diodes, transfor-
mers and output devices. A
large number of the chips are
of Mitsubishi’s own manufac-
ture and there are no EPROMs.
A plastic hood protects the
electronically dangerous parts
and a large metal plate helps
support the keyboard.

There seems to be no shor-
tage of components, no place
where 32K of RAM chips has
been leftout. You might expect
the ML-F48 to be the same as
the ML-F80, but with a few ICs
less.

The ML-F48 is a different

animal entirely. It uses an
older type of chip, the four by
one bit chip, instead of the
more expensive sixteen by one
bit chip of the 64K computer.
The older chips need a higher
voltage and more of them are
needed to do the same job. It
means that the PCB is totally
different, and the two Mitsu-
bishi computers bear little
internal resemblance. So
much for our ideas of a stri pped
down 64K computer!

‘At the moment there
is no disadvantage to
the ML-F48 for BASiC
users’

32K doesn’t impose much
restriction on the programs you
can write or run. That is largely
because of the inefficient way
memory is used in the 64K
machines.

In a 64K MSX 32K of the
available RAM is overlayed by
the 32K BASIC. This leaves
32K for BASIC programs,
though in practice the amount
is 28K, as some memory is
needed to keep track of vari-
ables and so forth. The ML-F48
has the same memory in
BASIC, with the BASIC butting
onto the RAM. If you don’t have
enough room for your BASIC
programs on the 32K machine,
you won’t get any more room by
buying a 64K machine. Mind
you, plans for 64K MSX with
virtually 64K of user memory
are well advanced. At the
moment, there is no disadvan-
tage to the ML-F48 for BASIC
users.

A difference may become
apparent if you try and load
large quantities of Machine
Code. Here the full 64K of a
64K micro becomes available.

so twice as much code can be
stored .

We tried out a wide variety
of commercially produced
MachineCode programs onthe
ML-F48. Level Nine adven-
tures loaded and ran perfectly.
Arcade games gave no prob-
lems. The only non-runner
was The Hobbit, Melbourne
House’s sophisticated adven-
ture. Ithadtoomuchcodetofit
the Mitsubishi. However, a
game of this complexity is very
rare indeed, and the programs
that won'tf itthe M L-F48 wi 1 1 be
miniscule in number.

We haven’t had any sophisti-
cated Machine Code business
packages yet, and this might
be another area of limitation.
With a word processor or data-
base that held data in Machine
Code format, and used no
BASIC, a 64K machine would
hold considerably more than
this computer.

Cartridge software poses no
such problem, as it contains its
own ROM, and operates inde-
pendently of the MSX memory.
On the software front, the 32K
RAM seems to be a relatively
insignificant shortcoming.

There will bea problem if you
want to run MSX-DOS and CP/M
software. This needs a ful 1 64K
of memory, so can’t be run on a
32K MSX. MSX-DOS BASIC will

operate quite happily though,
so you can use a disk drive to
store programs and data.

So, we have a £225 compu-
ter that on the face of it is
almost as good as rivals cost-
ing£75more. lstheML-F48as
good a bargain as it seems?

You’ll need a cassette recor-
der, television and plug to get
going. MSX computers don’t
have too many problems load-
ing programs from cassette,
given a decent recording. The
cable provided has a remote
control jack too.

‘The free commercial
games supplied ate
In a different league
entirely’

Running the demo program
gives a good idea of what an
MSX computer can do.
Graphics and sound are ably
demonstrated, add-ons ex-
plained and uses suggested.

The two sample games on
the demo cassette are pretty
naff. Breakout is a simple
version of the once upon a time
arcade favourite. Othello is a
strategy game that is more
playable but only a little more
exciting than checkers.

Five function keys double up to give ten user definable operations

The free commercial games
are in a different league entire-
ly and you’ll find some re-
viewed in this issue. Blagger is
a platform game, with your
character collecting keys.
Chuckie Egg is another classic
platform game. Eric and The
Floaters is an amusing maze
game and Mr Wong’s Loopy
Laundry isanother variation on
the platform theme. Les Flics
put you in the role of the Pink
Panther, while Shark Hunter
casts you as an Eskimo. All
these games are of a very high
sta n d a rd a n d a n exce 1 1 e n t star t
to any collection of software.

Playing the games and en-
tering BASIC programs will
show you how good the Mitsu-
bishi keyboard is. The keys are

Inside, the ML-F48 Is veiy different to the ML-F80 and built to the highest standards

slightly scallopped, angled
pleasantly upwards and clearly
marked. They have a solid feel
too, unlike the mushy or boun-
cy feel of other keyboards.
Word processors will find the
Mitsubishi ML-F48 a joy to use.

The Mitsubishi has a full
complement of keys — 48
alphanumeric, 21 control keys
and a cursor keypad. One key,
marked with Continental ac-
cents is inoperative, presum-
ably because it is not needed
by English programmers.

Control keys are accessible
enough. The CAPS LOCK has a
red lamp indicating it is set
The return key is easily the
largest on the board and the
space bar is large enough for
touch typists. Reaching CTRL
and STOP with one hand is
simple too, unlike on some
other MSX computers. Power
on is shown by a green light
next to the ML-F48 logo.
There’s an on/off switch on the
left of the casing.

The function keys are a little
on the small side, and the use
of more colour to pick out key
controls would be an improve-
ment as wou Id the add ition of a
reset button. Still, by current
standards, the ML-F48
keyboards is very good indeed.

The cursor keypad is four
separate keys with a long
travel. For fast games this is a
disadvantage, and a joystick
will make life easier.

All the usual interfaces are
provided. Two joystick ports
are on the right hand side of the
case. Mitsubishi have their
own joysticks at around £15,
though virtually any joystick
can be fitted.

Next to the joystick ports is
an eight pin DIN socket for
cassette players, enabling full
remote control with the sup-
plied lead.

Along the back is a per-
manently connected power

MITSUBISHI

TWo Joystick ports and the cassette Interface are on the right hand end of the ML-F48. Note the attractive two tone finish too

cable and three phono sockets
for RF (television), audio and
video output. They are clearly
marked. Then there's a locking
parallel Centronics printer in-
terface and a covered cartridge
port. A second cartridge port,
with flap, is on the top of the
case. Both ports will take a
cartridge or cartridge port fit-
ting peripheral.

We tried out the Sanyo
lightpen and the Sony disk
drive on the 32K Mitsubishi. In
both cases the verdict was the
same — no problems. That's a
good demonstration of MSX
compatib il ity too — M itsubishi
computer, Sanyo lightpen and
data recorder, Sony disk drive
and Microvitec monitor. Con-

LIKES

Gk)od value for money
Quality of construction
Supplied software
ifeyboard action

trary to the claims of sceptics,
compatibility is a fact of life in
the MSX world. The fact that
the ML-F48 is only 32K is no
disadvantage to this.

Performance is first class.
Even when left switched on
overnight, there is no abnor-
mal overheating. Awell-grilled
case sees to that. Picture and
sound quality is more depen-
dent on the quality of the
television, though for optimum
results, you'll need a monitor
and a Hi Fi system.

Documentation is fine. The
304 page manual details each
BASIC command, with example
programs, grouped together

under files, graphics, sound
and so on. There's a good
overviewofthe system too, and
the language is not too patro-
nising. Appendices detail con-
trol codes, error messages and
entry points for BASIC routines
— good, useful information.

All in all, the ML-F48 has
plentygoingforit.Thefactthat

DISLIKES

Limitations of 32K
No reset switch
Demonstration games

it has 'merely' 32Kof RAM is no
handicap unless you are load-
ing programs with more than
32K of code (very rare at the
moment), or using coded busi-
ness programs, in which case
you won't be able to hold as
much information or wantingto
run CP/M software with a disk
drive. All available peripherals
will fit, all cartridge software
will run. Until we get true 64K
machines, you might as well
save money and stick to 32K, if
you want a quality Japanese
machine and pennies are
short.

Verdict

As you are getting over £45
worth of games software with
Mitsubishi computers, the
price is even more reasonabie.
Shopping around may weii
yieid prices of iess than £225.
Our verdict has to be that the
ML-F48 is an MSX computer
with pienty going for it and
exceiient vaiue for
money to boot.

MITSUBISHI ML-F48 £225

SPECIFICATION

CPU

Z-80A equivalent

EXPANSION BUS

No

(3.6MHz clock)

CARTRIDGE PORT

2

MEMORY

PRINTER

1 X Centronics

SERIAL PORT

No

RAM

32K

CASSEHE

8-pin DIN

ROM

32K MSX BASIC

RESET

No

VIDEO RAM

16K

DIMENSIONS

KEYBOARD

TYPE

Full travel

WEIGHT

370 x270 x70mm
(WxDxH)

KEYS

48 Alphanumeric

2.7kg

21contol keys
Keypadcursor control

POWERSUPPLY

Internal, captive mains

NUMERIC

No

lead

KEYPAD

FINISH

Black/silyer plastic

VIDEO DISPLAY

case, grey keys with
black lettering

TEXT

40 characters x 24
lines

SOFTWARE INCLUDED

GRAPHICS

Maximum resolution

Demo + 2 games,

256 X 192 pixel

Blagger.Les Flics,

COLOURS

16

MrWong’sLoopy
Laundry, Eric and

SPRITES

32

The Floaters,

OUTPUT

TV

Chuckie Egg, Shark

Monitor

Hunter

SOUND

SUPPLIEDACCESSORIES

1 RF cable

GENERATOR

3 channels with 8

1 cassette lead

octave range

Instruction manual

OUTPUTS

Mono audio output
(RCA phono)

DISTRIBUTOR

Mitsubishi Electric

INTERFACES

150mV/10k0hm

Standard

(UK) Ltd, Otterspool
Way, Watford,

Herts WD28LD

JOYSTICKS

2 Atari standard

Tel: 0923 770000

SEE AND HEAR THE YAMAHA CX5M
AT THE FOLLOWING HI-TECH DEALERS . . .

SH/iRpn musiGM G

MUSIC CENTRES

YAMAHA

CX5M Music Computer

The Ultimate
Music Computer System

SOFTWARE -CARTRIDGES
- PERIPHERALS -

free

bbochure

available
ON

request

ALL IN STOCK

INSTANT CREDIT
MAIL ORDER

OPEN SIX DAYS
A WEEK
9am-5.30pm

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interest

free

CREDIT

SHARpnmusiGM G

65 High Street, Maidstone, Kent ME1 4 1 SR

Tel: (0622)61649/61407

Please supply

Access or

I enclose £ Barclaycard

Name

Address.-

Day-timeAA/orks T el. No

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9m

YAMAHA CX5M COMPUTER

The first truly musical micro

Complete with a full range of software and a choice of

two keyboard sizes

50 New Bond Street, London Wl. Telephone: 01-491 2777

ONE

WAY

M

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Pay us a visit and you will
see and hear the amazing

YAMAHA CX5M

Full selection of omps uuitcirs end
keyboards iilwuys dVciilnble

100 School Street
Wolverhampton WV3 OMR
Telephone: (0902) 23060

COMC TO im MUSIC SKCIAUSTS

YAMAHA CX5M

always on demonstration

All available software and keyboards in stock now!!

627-631 High Road, Leytonstone, London Ell 4PA

Telephone: 01-539 0288

REIDY’S BLACKBURN

9-11-13 Penny Street, Blackburn, Lancashire

THE AMAZING NEW YAMAHA CX5

★ 8-note polyphonic synthesiser ★ Language basic

(DX9) on board ★ 16 Colours

★ 64K RAM Micro Computer ★ fully compatible with all other

★ 32 Sprites

TELEPHONE: (0254) 6521 2

DERBY ORGAN CENTRE

62 BABINGTON LANE, DERBY
Telephone; Derby 361343

NOW IN STOCK

The incredible CX5M MUSIC
COMPUTER from YAMAHA

Call in for a demonstration

HEARING IS BELIEVING

Andertons

» MUSIC SUPERSTORE

YAMAHA HI-TECH
SURREY, SUSSEX,
HAMPSHIRE

Haydon Place, Guildford, Surrey
Tel: (0483) 38212 (lines). Telex: 859535

B A I RID

JLtcL.

SOLE NORTHERN IRELAND DISTRIBUTORS FOR

YAMAHA HI-TECH

Plus full range of software and peripherals

208-208A York St, Belfast BT15 IND.

Tel: 749358

Guitar

TORK.SHOP

BRISTOL • ENGLAND

BRISTOL’S LEADING
STOCKISTS OF THE

YAMAHA

CX5M

MUSIC COMPUTER

157-159 St Michaels Hill
Bristol BS2 8DB

Tel: (0272) 742675

‘Hearing is believing’

CALL IN FOR
A DEMO

SOUNDS GREAT

182 Wilmsiow Road, Heald Green, Cheshire

MANCHESTER’S ONLY HI-TECH AGENTS

YAMAHA CX5M

Hardware and software on demo and in stock

TEL: 061-437 4788

Z

. I

J

•

y

YAMAHA

CX5M MUSIC
COMPUTER

If you’re looking for a personal computer to make music, look no further! Yamaha’s
amazing CX5 offers the same incredible FM sound synthesizer quality as its
famous DX synthesizer series! Plus all the features of the innovated MKX computer
system!

The CX5M is an extremely versatile computer specifically designed for a wide range of music generation, programnung
and editing tasks, and for interfacmg with other Yamaha digital msiruments and components. The CX5M is a a MIDI com
patible computer, allowing it to serve as a control centre for playback and automatic sequencing of theY amaha DX senes
synthesizers. RX drum machines and other MIDI compatible equipment.

The CX5M also has a Yamaha digital FM voice generator built-m - the same type of voice generator that has put the
Yamaha DX senes Digital Programmable Algonthm Synthesizers at the forefront of the digital keyboard field. That means
It IS capable of producing nch, realistic sounds that are almost mdistinguishable from acoustic instruments. In fact, 46 fine
voices are provided pre-programmed. But you can also program your own to create virtually any voice you like And you
can save your original voices on a standard cassette tape.

A wide range of applications programs, mterface uiuts and accessones expand its music making

potential enormously.

ON PERMANENT

DEMONSTRATION

AT ALL BRANCHES

NOW!!

Yamaha CX-5ME Music ■
Computer m

Value for money! YAIWAHA: CX-5ME fl

Music Computer £449

YK-01 : Mini Keyboard £85

YK- 10: Full-keyboard £165 I

YRM- 102: FM voicing ROM for internal / 4

voices £36 / J

YRM- 101: FM Music composer ROM; / Q|
8 part, 8 different FM Voices for song /

composition £36 / .

YRM- 103: DX-7 voicing ROM: create / .

and edit DX-7 voices via MIDI £36 / pj^'

YRM-104: Music macro ROM: add /
to programmes via MSX Basic £36 / no . i

UDC-01: Data cartridge £65

C A-01 : Single cartridge adapter £ 19

Other MSX standard programmes will
run on the CX-5, so now’s the time
to buy a computer — the wait is over.

OPENING TIMES:

Mon-Fri 9.30am-6.00pm
Saturday 9.30am-5.30pm
Norwich Closed Wednesday

ALL ITEMS MAIL ORDER
DELIVERY UK ^

MAINLAND

FREE.

SEE AND HEAR THE YAMAHA CX5M

AT THE FOLLOWING HI-TECH DEALERS

■ I

Also:

QX1 —
TX816 —
KX88—
TX7—

IN STOCK CALL FOR DEMONSTRATION

QX7—

8 track FM digital composer/sequencer
8 module FM sound generator
Virtuoso keyboard
FM expander

DX5—
RX11 —
DX7^
PF15 —

Digital recorder
FM synthesizer
Digital drums
Synthesizer
Piano

104/108B Main Street, Bingley, W. Yorks

Tel: Bradford (0274) 568843/564389/561044

Open till 9pm every Monday and Thursday

Rod

Argents

M2W

on

a

Q

20 Denmark St, London WC2 Tel: 01-379 6690 (sales)

01-240 0085 (service)

Good selection of all available software in stock

Come in for a demonstration or call Stuart for further

information

Music Store, 1 5 The Butts, Worcester T el: 61 1 744

YAMAHA

PETER

BONNER

MUSICAL

YAMAHA CX5M

in stock now!

12 Grove Road
Eastbourne BN21 4TJ
Tel: (0323) 639335

YAMAHA

TECH

SALES AND
SUPPORT

u

I

01-440 3449

Call in for a demo now!

230 HIGH STREET, BARNET, HERTS

Our resident
computer
WIZARD can
answer all
your queries
regarding the

YAMAHA CX5

Ring or call in
for a demo,
or send for
free info
pack!

14-16 High St, Addlestone Tel: Weybridge 40139/54877
56 Surbiton Rd, Kingston Tel: 01-5469877

324-326 Farnham Rd, Slough Tel: Slough 822754

reet Cambridge
1/65093 Next to the

9^

hopping Centr e

flit

til

INI

Modern Music Store

17 St Mary’s St

90-94

40 Mitchell St

Edinburgh

Saltmarket

Kirkcaldy

Tel:

Glasgow

Tel:

031-557 3986

Tel:

041-552 6825

0592 260293

No. 1 for YAMAHA Hi-Tech in

Elgin Street
Dunfermline
Tel:

0383 733353

Call in for a demo or further information on the

404 Byres Road

53-53A Home Street

Glasgow G1 2 8AF

Edinburgh EH3 9JP

YAMAHA

Tel: 041-339 3618

Tel : 031 -228 1 704

an

Music Computer

DEALERS IN MUSIC TECHNOLOGY

t/—

0H ^

T 0’

fL

ICS

Id

f

don, Surrey CRO 2TB
Tel: 01-680 1042, 01-681 0328

CX5 PACKAGE DEALS NOW AVAILABLE

YAMAHA ^>C

96 Hi^ Street Colchester (0206) 65652
41 St Nicholas Street Ipswich (0473) 54996

YAMAHA leading north-west
HI-TECH dealer

CX5 computer and all software from stock
Please call for your own personal demonstration

65 Sankey St, Warrington WA1 1 SU T el: (0925) 32591

1

6ui(ar^an & ^on€fO

If it’s YAMAHA you want we have in stock a great deal of Keyboards :
Hi-Tech Equipment : Drum Machines : Guitars and Basses : Drum
Kits : Recording Equipment etc, all guaran-
teed by our excellent in-store engineers. Easy
parking nearby. Access and Barclaycard.

Finance arranged (details on request).

Come and see the CX5 demonstrated on our
48" Monitor Screen!!

23/27 Middlesbrough Road, South Bank,

Middlesbrough, Cleveland TS6 6NW
Tel: Eston Grange (0642) 467510/4561 84

10 HIGH ROAD, CHADWELL HEATH

NR ROMFORD, ESSEX
Tel: 01-5994228,01-598 9506

See and hear the amazing new

Yamaha CX5M Music
Computer — in our high-tech

music store NOW!

Its music making potential will
astound you — and so will the

price!!

RQ8100 data recorder Is battery powered, compact and costs £44.50

Plenty of cables come with the CF2700, Including a BNC video cable

T here it sat, glaring glee-
fully at the passing shop-
pers with a colourful de-
monstration program cycling
endlessly in the background.
Onlookers gathered, over-
awed by the machismo of this
latest arrival on the MSX
scene. It is the Panasonic
CF2700 Personal Computer,
and for Just £280, it could be
making your other domestic
appliances reach for their Bull-
workers.

Panasonic is pretty much a
household name in this coun-
try. They make video recorders
and cameras, televisions, hi-fi
and portable sound systems,
car audio systems, calcula-
tors, batteries and business
equipment. The parent com-
pany also makes goods under
the National and Technics
names — microwaves, shav-
ers, vacuum cleaners and
electric organs. It is a diversity
typical of many MSX makers.

The parent company goes
under the name of Matsushita
Electric and was formed in
1918. They've built a solid
reputation for high qual ity pro-
ducts and innovative develop-
ments. Other MSX companies
are going to have to watch the i r
backs if Panasonic get aggres-
sive.

FortheirfirstMSX computer,
Panasonic have followed the
crowd, producing a 64K com-
puter with the established
range of features and at a
middling price. They have also
launched another variant of
the MSX joystick, and a data
recorder. We’ve been looking
at the three items.

The first thing to strike you
about the Panasonic is its
appearance. It is considerably
larger than any of the other
MSX micros we have seen.
Physical measurements are a
width of 426mm, a depth of
249mm and a height of 91mm.
It weighs over 3.5 kilograms.

The top plate is dominated
by two cartridge slots. The
casing is matt black, the keys
mid and light grey, with white
lettering. Mute green arrow
keys and the machine logo
form the only colour relief.

The appearance is aggres-
sive and business-like. This is
not a computer for wimps.
Such a sta nee is no bad th ing i n
the MSX world. Most manufac-
turers are content to give their
MSX micros a conservativage
style likely to appeal to Mr and
Mrs Average. The Panasonic is
definitely the most distinctive
MSX we have seen and I ikely to
attract a lot of attention on the
shelf. To our eyes it is ruggedly
handsome — you must draw

your own Judgements.

Panasonic don't supply any
free software with the CF2700,
though their dealers may be
making special offers. You do
get a plentiful supply of cables
though — a TV lead, a hi-fi
lead, a remote contol cassette
lead and a video cable termi-
nating in a BNC connector, so
you should be able to connect
monitors such as the Micro-
vitec Cub range without buying
a separate lead. You also get
an introductory manual, a
BASIC manual and a sheet of
graphics labels. You stick
these to the keys so you can
see what their graphic func-
tions are at a glance.

Getting inside the Pana-
sonic is relatively easy (though
not recommended of course).
The power transformer is in-
side and the power cable
permanently attached. A heavy
metal plate underthe keyboard
makes that part of the machine
as solid as a rock. There’s a
large heat sink to absorb heat
and a metal casing around the
video display processor. This
keeps out stray radio fre-
quency (RF) signals that might
affect the picture. It is a feature
we've seen on no other MSX
micro and a sign that Mat-

sushita have really thought
about quality control. All in all,
the Panasonic must rate as the
best built MSX micro we have
yet seen. The extra size and
weight this involves is no
drawback.

The specifications vary not
one iota from those of other
64K MSX computers. MSX
BASIC occupies 32K of ROM,
there's 16K of RAM for the
screen display and a three
tone, one noise sound gene-
rator. For graphics you have
sixteen colours and up to 256
separate sprites. With BASIC in
memory, users have around
32K for programs and data
storage.

The BASIC includes sub-
languages for sound and
graphics, automatic line
numbering, commands for us-
ing joysticks and other
peripherals — you’ll find more
details of MSX BASIC in other
articles. If you are new to
programming, you’ll find MSX
BASIC easy to get on with and
very user friendly. It has plenty
of commands to allow pro-
grammers to incorporate joy-
sticks, paddles, pads and
other peripherals into pro-
grams and commands for
structured programming, to
get the most efficient prog-
rams.

Plenty of interfaces are pro-
vided . You can fittwo joysticks,
a Centronics printer, two car-
tridges or cartridge port inter-
facing devices, a cassette
recorder, TV or monitor and
hi-fi. Panasonic haven't broken
any boundaries with their inter-
faces.

The keyboard has the usual
array of keys — 48 alpha-
numeric, five function, 16
other control and a diamond of
cursor control keys. They are
well spaced, slightly scalloped
and havea sol id feel. Lettering
is just printed on the keys, and
with heavy use may start to
wear off. Asl ightly more angled
keyboard would help touch
typing, but no computer is
perfect.

What is usually a blank key
on U.K. computers is marked
with grave and acute accents
on the Panasonic. Its use is
explained early on in the
manual, and the upshot is that
you can quite easily type Con-
tinental texts.

The control keys rely a little
too much on arrows to indicate

StIck-on graphic symbol stickers are an excellent Idea

their functions. The shift, caps
lock, backspace and return
keys are all marked with
slightly cryptic arrows. Still,
they are in the right locations
and you’ll soon get used to the
markings. There’s a caps lock
light too. Two shift keys and a
nice long space bar make for
good text entry, while ESC and
STOP keys can be pushed with
one hand.

The graphics stickers are a
great idea. Stick them to the
keys and you won’tha veto refer
to manuals to find out how to
getmusical orothercharacters
available by pressing the
GRAPH key simultaneously.

Games playing with the cur-
sorcontrol keys ispleasurable.
They have a middling amount
of travel and will stand up to a
fair battering.

The only omission from the
keyboard is a reset key. Should
a program crash irretrievably,
your only course is to use the
on/off switch under the left of
the keyboard. It is a rocker
switch that is not too easy to
knock accidentally. There’s a
red power on lamp above the
cursor keys.

The supplied instruction
manual gives a good introduc-
tion to the CF2700. The
keyboard and setting up is
explained. Then it is on to
entering programs and a brief
overview of the main program-
ming areas — maths, sound,
graphics, program structure
and so forth. Amusing dia-
grams illustrate the points
made and there are short
programs to try out. At the back
there is a 17 page section of
fairly detailed technical data
about the computer.

The accompanying BASIC
manual is a command by
command survey of MSX

Panasonic’s Joystick Is different

BASIC, with full explanations
of each command. Between
them, these two books should
have you writing simple prog-
rams before very long. As for
the lack of a demonstration
tape, that is no great loss, as
once they are viewed, such
thingsareusuallyconsignedto
the back of a drawer. It’s far
better to try a few games or
write your own programs.

All the ports on the Panaso-
nic are capped or shielded to
prevent dust entering. The two
joystick ports are on the right
hand side, beneath the cursor
control keys. They are the
standard nine pin Atari-type
devices.

Cartridges go in one of the
two flapped slots on the top of
the CF2700. It doesn’t matter
which port you plug in to,
though if you are using both
ports, the number one port will
take precedence. Manufac-
turers are now standardising
on the cartridge-style 50 pin
interface, rather than having
two different types of 50 pin
expansion ports. With some of
the early MSX computers, you
may find that you have only one
port that will take all the

Two cartridge ports dominate the top of the Panasonic MSX micro

peripherals (light pens, disk
drives and so on) being pro-
duced. You’ll have no such
problems with the Panasonic.

The Panasonic cartridge
ports don’t have a switch to
reset the machine when a flap
is opened. Remember to
switch the computer off when
changing cartridges, as it is
possible to damage them by
inserting them into a running

i

Panasonic aren’t as

yet producing a wide

range of MSX

peripherals, either

here or In Japan’

machine. Still, prying fingers
poking open a flap by mistake
won’t mean the loss of a
valuable, unsaved program as
the computer resets itself.

The rest of the interfaces are
clustered on the back of the
computer. There is a parallel
Centronics printer i nterf ace for
printers, an eight pin DIN
socket for cassette recorders
and sockets for audio, video
and RF or television output. All
are clearly labelled. The only
thing missing is an RGB port.

Inside, quality assembly Is apparent. Note the metal casing around the RF unit and the large Internal transformer at top left

Panasonic aren’t as yet pro-
ducing a wide range of MSX
peripherals, either here or in
Japan. They have a few moni-
tors and couple of printers for
the home market. Over here,
all we will be seeing is a
Joystick and a data recorder.
Sti 1 1 , the beauty of MSX is that
peripherals from other manu-
facturers will work quite
happily.

Unlike the other MSX Joy-
sticks from Japan that are
exactly the same, apart from
the colour of the fire button,
the National CF2201 Joystick
is a different model . It is priced
at £19.95, slightly more than
the other Japanese Joysticks,
but a much better model des-
pite its plasticky feel. Finished
in white with three blue fire
buttons, it has a positive action
and a long stick that gives
plenty of leverage.

The data recorder is model
number RQ8100 and an up-
market device with a recom-
mended price of £44.50. It is
smaller than other data recor-
ders we have seen, measuring
Just 200 X 120 X 40mm. The
smal I size is due to there being
no on-board transformer. The
unit* is battery powered only,
though you can fit an AC
adaptor.

It is a purpose built data
recorder with some useful fea-
tures to make loading and
saving programs easier. Atape
counter is a fairly common
feature. So too is a built-in
condensor microphone. But-
tons give the usual fast for-
ward/rewind, stop, pause, play
and record options. You can
review a recording too, fast
forwarding or rewinding with
the sound coming out of the
speaker.

An array of other controls is
found down the side of the
recorder. There are Jacks for a
cassette lead, with a remote
control socket. Tone and
volume is adjusted by ridged
wheels. You can also select

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Keys are scalloped, solid and conventionally laid out. A few more colours and less arrows might help but you soon get used to It

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PANASONIC CF2700 £280

SPECIFICATION

CPU

MEMORY

Z-80A equivalent
(3.6MHz clock)

RAM

64K

ROM

32K MSX BASIC

VIDEO RAM

16K

KEYBOARD

TYPE

Full travel

KEYS

NUMERIC

48 alphanumeric
21 control keys
Cursor keypad

KEYPAD

No

VIDEO DISPLAY

TEXT

40 characters - 24
lines

GRAPHICS

Maximum resolution
256 X 192 pixels

COLOURS

16

SPRITES

32

OUTPUT

TV

Monitor

SOUND

GENERATOR

3 channels with
8 octave range

OUTPUTS

Mono audio output
(6-pin DIN)
150mV/10k0hm
standard

INTERFACES

JOYSTICKS

EXPANSION

2 Atari Standard

BUS

None

CARTRIDGE

PORT

2

PRINTER

1 X Centronics

SERIAL PORT

No

CASSERE

8-pin DIN

RESET

No

DIMENSIONS

426 X 249 X 91
(WxDxH)

WEIGHT

3.5kg

POWER SUPPLY

Internal, captive mains
lead

FINISH

Black plastics case,
grey and light grey
keys with white
lettering

SOFTWARE INCLUDED

None

SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES

2 video cable
1 audio cable
1 cassette interface
cable

Instruction manual
Basic manual

DISTRIBUTOR

Panasonic (UK) Ltd,
300-318 Bath Rd,
Slough, Berks SLl 6JB
Tel: (75) 34522

normal or data functions. The
latter plays the tape at full
blast, but not through the
speaker. You can switch in the
speaker to hear a muted sound
of the data, to check there is a
program to load. The normal
use mode would be used for
playing back or recording
music.

Another switch lets you alter
the alignment of the record/
playback head. Sometimes a
program that won't load with
one head alignment will load
with another. It is a facility
found on very few low price
data recorders.

In use, the Panasonic recor-
der loaded everyth ing we threw
at it. The only problems occur-
red when the batteries were
runningout, and an AC adaptor
can bewell recommended. The

LIKES

Excellent styling

Quality of assembly

Supplied extra

s

price is a little high, though it is
considerably cheaper than
some of the deluxe data recor-
ders we have seen and it is a
good looking unit.

Panasonic are also import-
ing a rarige of 18 cartridges,
produced by the ASCII Corpora-
tion of Japan. These are priced
a little expensively at £18.80,
but some of the games are very
high quality. Still, you won’t
need to own a Panasonic
computer to try these games.

Performance of the Pana-
, sonic is what we m i ght expect

of a Japanese MSX micro —
excel lent. The coloursare crisp
and bright, sounds well de-
fined. Overheating is not a
problem and any shortcomings
w ill be those of your audio or
video system.

Panasonic’s CF2700 slots
into the MSX market towards
the top end of the 64K

machines. It is rapidly becom-
ing evident that 64K compu-
ters are falling into budget and
quality categories. The more
expensive machines tend to be
better made, come from com-
panies with household names
and often include worthwhile
extras.

The CF2700 is up against

such machines as the popular
Sony HitBit, the stylish JVC
HC-7, the Canon V-20, the
Sanyo MCP-lOO and the Mitsu-
bishi MLF-80, with a six pack of
games. On paper it offers
nothing that can’t be matched

DISLIKES

No reset key
Too many arrows
A little pricey

by its rivals and it will probably
be available through many of
the same outlets. Its looks and
feel will play an important part
in any sales success.

In its favour the Panasonic
has a high standard of con-
struction and comes with an
excellent choice of cables. It
has good documentation, a
solid keyboard and all the
quality you’d associate with a
name like Panasonic.

Verdict

Would we recommend It?
The answer to that Is an
unhesitating yes. Having said
that, we’d recommend most of
the rivals too, as top line MSX
computersare undoubtedly ex-
cellent computers. Still, the
style of the Panasonic does
make It stand out from the
crowd and for that reason. It
should prove a popular
machine. If you shop around,
you may also find a dealer who
is prepared to throw in some
free cartridge software too,
and if that was the case, have
no hesitation in exchang-
ingmoney for micro. IH

Authorities on MSX all agree it is a
world-wide standards, but is this reaily the
case? lain Dawson finds out

M SX computer makers
have been agreed on
one point ever since
theyannouncedthatthearrivai
of their machines on Britain’s
shores was imminent. MSX is a
standard, they aii say. And it’s
a worid-wide standard, they
continue — which impiies that
MSX computers the world over
are identical and that they,
their peripherals and their
software are totally inter-
changeable.

But is this the case — is a
Japanese MSX computer the
same as its UK model, and
could a Japanese MSX
machine be brought i nto the UK
and used without having to be
altered? Now that MSX
machines are finding their way
into other European countries
such as France, Italy and West
Germany, are these computers
any different from their
Japanese and British counter-
parts and can peripherals from
one country be used with a
computer from another
country?

The answer, in general, is
no.

There are differences be-
tween MSX machines sold in
different countries. These are
mainly minor differences,
since different countries use
different systems to generate
television pictures, have diffe-
rent mains voltages and speak
different languages. Butonlya
few manufacturers have recog-

nised that someone in the UK
might want to use an Italian
MSX machine without altera-
tion, for example, and have
builtmachines which will allow
this. In general getting a fore-
ign MSX machine to run here in
the UK is impossible.

It is almost true to say that
software written to run on
Japanese MSX machines will
run on the MSX machines
which are available in the UK.
Any graphics produced by the
software are distorted and the
colours are not the same as
those produced by Japanese
machines, but the software
does run.

So, if Japanese software
runs on UK machines, produc-
ing a display on a British
television set, surely it is
possible to connect a British
television to a Japanese com-
puter and any software which is
run will produce a picture on
the television. Unfortunately,
this is not the case.

Japan and the UK, and the
rest of Europe in fact, use
different systems to produce
colour pictures on television
sets. The UK uses the PAL
system. Most of the rest of
Western Europe use the PAL
system as well — which would
be fine but for the fact that the
PAL system used on continen-
tal Europe is not the same as
the PAL used in the UK.

To make matters worse, the
French and most of Eastern

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Philips launched the 32K VG8000, Its
first MSX, In Italy last November, but It
won’t be available here until later this
year. Note the slim shape and
membrane-type keyboard

Europe use a completely diffe-
rent television system called
SECAM, while the Japanese
use the NTSC system to pro-
duce their television pictures.
Most television sets in each
country are built to accept the
decode signals sent using one
system, and no other.

Because computers use
television pictures to pass
information to the outside
world they must use whatever
system is used in the country
where they are sold. So
Japanese MSX machines have
a video interface which sends
NTSC signals, UK machines
send PAL signals and any
French machine generates
SECAM signals. Each country's
machines have different cir-
cuitry to handle the sending of
these signals.

To a piece of software,
connecting a machine which
uses the PAL system to a
television set which has been
built to receive signals in the
NTSC format is fine. It can sit
there happily sending its sig-
nalsout all day, and, asfaras it
is concerned, a picture is being
produced.

To the user the situation is
not fine. Although the compu-
ter is successfully sending
information to his television
set, the set cannot understand
what it is receiving, and so
cannot produce a television
picture.

The upshot of all this is that if
you connect a Japanese or an
Italian or a West German MSX
machine to a British colour
television set and expect to
see a picture — you’ll be
disappointed. Mixing and
matching television sets and
computers from different
countries is not on, unless you
buy a multi-standard TV.

There is another way around
the problem, however. This is
to use an RGB monitor rather
than a television set to display
anything produced by a com-
puter. An RGB signal from any
machine will produce an image
on any RGB monitor, whatever
country the computer and the
monitor are from. Unfortunate-
ly, only two of the MSX
machines available in the UK
boast an output for an RGB
monitor — the JVC HC-7 and
the Sony HB-75.

A second, more easily
solved, problem is to do with
the different mains voltages
used by different countries.
The Japanese mains is set at
120 volts, Europe uses 230
volts, the USA and Canada use
150 volts and the UK uses 240
volts.

This means that you cannot
connect a foreign MSX
peripheral such as a disk drive
directlyto a British machine —
the two pieces of equipment
need different voltages to
work.

The way around this problem
is to put a transformer between
the mains outlet and the
peripheral, changing the vol-
tage to that needed by the
peripheral. The Philips MSX
machine, launched in Italy at
the end of last year, has been
built so that it and its peripher-
als can be fed by any mains
voltage between 100 volts and
600 volts.

Language is a very obvious
difference between countries.
It is also very obvious that if
manufacturers such as Sony or
Mitsubishi had brought MSX
machines into the UK from
Japan and tried to sell them
with keyboards embossed with
the Japanese alphabet, or
which gave error messages in
Japanese, they would not have
reached their sales targets.

For the Arabic market, a

collaboration between the
Arabic firm of Al Alamiah and
Microsoft i n Japan has led to an
Arabic version of MSX, com-
plete with Arabic characters
and right to left text entry. It is
perhaps the most radical
transformation of an MSX com-
puter yet.

Although the differences be-
tween French and English are
not as huge as those between
Japanese and English, they do
exist. The French use accents
in some of their words, so any
machine sold in France must
have these accents on its
keyboard.

Software, and this includes
programming languages and
games software, has to give
instructions and messages in
the language which the people
in the country using it can
understand. The French espe-
cially have a reputation for
disliking programming in

BASIC because it uses English
words, and are unwilling to buy
software which does not give
operating instructions in

French.

Even British machines sold
in the US have to be altered if
they are to succeed with the
Americans — and vice versa.
The changes are minimal, but
noticeable — an American
would have no use for a British
machine which had a pound
sign but no dollar sign, for
example.

A number of MSX manufact-
urers have plans to sell their
machines in the US, although
no-one is offering anything
there yet.

if they are going to sell MSX
machines in different coun-
tries, the manufacturers will
have to alter their products to
take a particular country’s lan-
guage, its mains voltage and
its television system into
account.

Apart from these unalter-
ables, the vagaries of a coun-
try’s market can also lead to
differences between MSX
machines. An example is the
different memory sizes of
British and Japanese MSX
machines.

Most of the machines on
sale in Japan have 32Kof RAM,
or in some cases a miserly 16K
of memory. 8K is the minimum
amountof memory specified In
the MSX standard. IntheUKthe
situation is different — all but
two Of the machines sold here
have 64K of memory. The only
machines to sport a smaller

RAMarebuiltbyMitsubishi and
Yamaha They have 32K of
memory. But Mitsubishi has a
64K machine as well and the
Yamaha is more a synthesiser
than a computer.

According to the manufac-
turers the reason f orthis is that
the UK is an advanced market.
“The UK market' is more adv-
anced than the rest of Europe,
and indeed the rest of the
world”, said a spokesman for
Spectravideo, the company
which makes the SVI-728.
“MSX had to be upgraded
above the Japanese level to be
acceptable in the UK", con-
tinued the spokesman, "and
anything with less than 64K
would have been seen as
inferior and not accepted".
This sentiment is echoed by
the other MSX companies in
the UK— Toshiba, Sanyo, JVC
etal.

A counter argument as to
why Japanese machines have
less memory than their UK
versions is that when they were
introduced in Japan over a year
ago, 16K or 32K was suffi-
cient, and few manufacturers
have upgraded their machines
-yet.

Such upgrades are immi-
nent though, according to
manufacturers, such as Sony
and Canon. But you would
expect these two companies in
particular to voice such an

opinion: the only two com-
panies which have given the
Japaneseversions of their MSX
machines 64K of RAM so far
are — yes, you guessed it —
Sony and Canon.

Of the companies making
MSX machines and peripher-
als, Philips is the odd one out
on a number of counts. It is the
only European company mak-
ing an MSX computer. It is the
only company not to have sold
its machine in Japan. And it is
the only company which has
not made the UK the first
European country to receive its
MSX offerings.

Philips, which has its head-
quarters in Eindhoven, Hol-
land, launched its VG8000
initially in Italy at the end of
September.

In December the company
announced its machine and
peripherals in Austria and Bel-
gium. But Philips' MSX pro-
ducts will not be finding their
way into the UK until later this
year. Why has Philips decided
to do this? What is so different
- ‘ or bad — about the UK?

"We have some production
output", says Gerard Smelt of
Philips, Eindhoven, stressing
the word 'some'. "We cannot
supply the whole European
market, so we're starting off
smal I and have chosen to start
selling outside the UK in coun-
tries like Italy and Germany

RGB port, top left, overcomes
compatibility problems. Far left:
Japanese machines. Centre —
Yamaha's Arabic micro. Left: MuRI-
standard monitor. Above: assorted
monitor ports

where demand is comparative-
ly low. The UKisa big marketfor
MSX machines — only the US is
bigger."

We British will soak up a lot
of the MSX manufacturers'
combined output. By compari-
son West Germany is a small
market. Sanyo In Germany
reckons that between 25,000
and 50,000 MSXmachineswill
be bought by the Germans in
the whole of 1985.

Apart from Philips, there are
ten other companies selling
MSX computers in the UK, and
one or two have launched — or
at least shown — products In
other European countries. JVC,
Toshiba, Spectravideo and
Yamaha are interested in the
German market along with
Philips; Sony, Canon, Hitachi,
JVC, Toshiba and Sanyo have
shown products in France.

Sony isthe most advanced in
its plans to conquer Europe.
The company announced its
HB-75 first in the UK, followed
this by launching it in France,
Germany, Italy, Spain, Hol-
land, Austria and Denmark in
October, 1984. In the follow-
ing month Sony launched its
machine in Scandinavia.

Sony has to ship its
machines Into Europe from
Japan, where they are made. It
does not make any computers
In the UK at present, but a Sony
spokesman says that it may be
doing so by this time next year.

Canon has a different posi-
tion. The company is preparing
Europe for its machines using
advertising campaigns, but so
far the UK is the only European
country where its V-20 is sold.

Canon also admits that
altering its machine for Europe
is posing more problems than

it thought it would do. "It’s
inevitable that MSX will arrive
In Europe", says Canon, "but
changing the display circuitry
etc means it’s going to take a
bit longer to get there.”

Sanyo has launched its
machine, the MPC-lOO, In the
UK and has shown it in France.
It is possible, says Sanyo,
that the French version of its
machine will have a built-in
data recorder — something
which the UK model does not
boast.

Ger many wi 1 1 be Sanyo’s next
target after France. The com-
pany planned to launch its
machinethere in March or April
this year.

A market not to be forgotten
Is the good old US of A. The UK
is a large market, but the US is
even bigger. So far no-one is
selling MSX machines there,
although a number of com-
panies have plans to do so.

Sony expects to start selling
MSX products In the US some-
time during this year, with the
launch pencilled in for the
Comdex computer show in Las
Vegas. Philips, too, hopes to
launch a machine in the US.

US machines may be more
advanced than those seen
already in Japan and Europe.
The signs are that some may
have built-in disk drives or
built-in software. These
machines will eventually be
available in other countries
too.

By the end of the year MSX
machines will be available
around the world. The
machines and peripherals sold
in any one country will be
Interchangeable — as was
intended when the MSX mak-
ers got together in the first
place. But MSX machines and
peripherals from different
countries will not be inter-
changeable. To get MSX into
Europe MSX manufacturers
have had to alter their
machines to take account of
the different television sys-
tems, mains voltages and mar-
ket forces in Its member coun-
tries.

So do all these differences
mean that MSX is not really a
standard after all? The answer
is that despite the differences,
MSX is a standard. After all,
how many users will want to mix
and match equipment bought
from different countries? We
suspect very few users indeed
will be in that type of
situation.

Computer languages have been evolving for
many years, with MSX BASIC the latest in a
long line of BASICS. Tern Sato traces its
development

I n the early days of comput-
ing, there was only one
computer language avail-
able, FORTRAN. FORTRAN
stands for FORmular TRANsla-
tion and was developed specifi-
cally for scientific usage. It had
useful mathematical features
such as trigonometric functions
and double precision accuracy
which were essential for mathe-
maticians and physicists but not
very useful for ordinary mortals
like you and i.

However, asthe use of compu-
ters spread during the Sixties,
people with less scientific back-
grounds started to use compu-
ters as a tool and there was
increasing need to develop a
computer language which ca-
tered for various subjects. This
led to development of computer
languages such as COBOL, LISP
and BASIC.

BASIC stands for Beginner's
All purpose Symbolic Instruction
Code and was developed by
Professors Kemeney and Kurtz
ofDartmouth col lege, USA. Their
aim was to create a language
which was so easy to learn that
children could use computers. It
was originally written as an
educational tool for computer
science students who didn't
have a strong mathematical
background. Unlike FORTRAN,
which was very complex and
difficult, BASIC could be learned
in matter of a few days.

Dartmouth BASIC, as it was
called then, became very popu-

lar and many versions were
written. It even got the support of
the American National Science
Foundation. The popularity of
Dartmouth BASIC can be attri-
buted to the simplicity of the
language. There is less compu-
terjargon within the language to
confuse the novice.

The first Dartmouth BASIC was
born on May 1st, 1964. To the
creators' delight it ran first time.
Those were the days when it was
thought impossible to make a
personal microcomputer and
Dartmouth BASIC was confined
to mini and mainframe compu-
ters around universities and
research institutes. Then, years
later, the first microprocessor
was invented.

If there is one person who can
be said to have contributed the
most to the micro computer
revolution, it is Bill Gates, found-
er and president of Microsoft.
Bill Gates is undoubtedly the
pioneer of the microcomputer.
In 1970, when he was Just
thirteen, he and his friend Paul
Allen were regularly using a
minicomputer at a company
called Computer Centre Cor-
poration.

They were allowed to 'hack'
around with computers to find
errors in any programs the
company was supplied with by
the minicomputer manufactur-
er, Digital Equipment Corpora-
tion. As long as Bill Gatesand his
friend could find bugs in DEC'S
programs Computer Centre Cor-

ry

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poration did not have to pay DEC
the bills for the computer time
the company was using.

At Computer Centre Corpora-
tion, Bill Gates learned a lot. In
fact he was soon able to infil-
trate a large network of compu-
ters and was one of the earliest
hackers (those people who
breakintocomputers which they
are not authorised to use).

The film War Games was
based around what Gates used
to do and the hero, David-
Lightman is very m u c h I i ke Gates
at that time. Gates, like Light-
man inthefilm, was once caught
crashing an eritire network of
computers, called Cybernet.

When i n 1974 the fi rst m i c rop-
rocessor, the 8008, was intro-
duced by Intel, Paul Allen prop-
osed to his friend that they
should write a BASIC for it. Gates

and Allen got hold of one of the
very first Intel 8008 microp-
rocessors and they eventually
ended up writing a traffic control
program for it. The 8008 is a very
limited processorand Gates was
not sure if they could write a
BASIC for it.

The following year, a tiny
company called MITS
announced the world's first mic-
rocomputer, the Altair. The mic-
rocomputer age had dawned.
The response from the computer
and electronics enthusiasts was
ecstatic. When Gates and Allen
learned of the news via Popular
Electronics magazine, they im-
mediately rang MITS boss Ed
Roberts and told him that they
had a BASIC suitable for Altair.

The Altair was built around
Intel's follow-uptothe 8008, the
8080 processor. It had 256
bytes (64K MSX computers have

GW BASIC, for the IBM PC
computers, Incorporated 14
digit accuracy, and this became
a feature of MSX BASIC. MSX
DOS was desiped by the man
who wrote MS DOS for IBM

65536 bytes) and no display or
keyboard. It had a row of switch-
es and lights and to program it
you had to flick the switches to
load in machine code. However
the Altair had a large number of
slots for plug in modules, so it
could be expanded.

After calling Ed Roberts,
Gates and Allen immediately
went to an electronics shop and
got fhemselve a manual for
8080, written by Adam Osborne,
who eventually pioneered port-
able computers, and started
working on their BASIC. They
knew how to program the 8008
but they had not laid their hands
on an 8080 microprocessor and
to add to their problems they had
told Ed Roberts that they could
deliver it in two or three weeks.

As they didn't have an Altair to
write the BASIC on. Gates and
Allen wrote it on a large compu-
ter at Harvard University where
Gateswasinhisfirstyear. Ittook
the two of them six weeksof sol id
work and when they had finished
Paul Allen went to see Ed
Roberts.

Ed Roberts was impressed. He
had had a lot of programmers
promising a BASIC for his Altair
but Allen was the first one to
come up with the product. Gates
and Allen's BASIC was tested on
an Altair with seven IK RAM

boards, a paper tape reader and
a teletype terminal connected.
Allen loaded the program which
madetheAltair load the BASIC by
hand using the switches, then
fed in the paper tape containing
the BASIC.

The teletype terminal printed
Memory Size?

Allen was excited. It had
worked first time round. He
typed in the amount of memory,
which was 7K, then tested it by
typing in PRINT 24-2

The teletype replied
4.

It worked! Gates and Allen's
BASIC, which was only about 4K
long (MSX BASIC is 32K), wasto
be sold through MITS as the
official language for the Altair.

Allen quit his job. Gates left
his university and they came
do wn to wor kfo r M ITS. Soon they
formed their own company, Mic-
rosoft. New computer com-
panies were springing up by the
dozen and Gatesand Allen found
that they could charge high
royalties for their BASIC. They
also improved their BASIC and
converted it for number of other
microprocessors.

Soon the micro revolution
swept the world. Tandy intro-
duced TRS 80, Apple, its Apple II
and Commodore, the CBM PET.

In 1977, across the Pacific in
Japan, one Kazuhiro (Kay) Nishi
and his friends had started a
small magazine for computer
buffs, called ASCII. Nishi, who
was still at Waseda University,
incorporated a company of the
same name and in the following
year visited Microsoftat Seattle.

In terms of computer hard-
ware and software, the
Japanese were well behind the
Americans. Nishi decided to
import American software to
Japan. His trip in October 1978
resulted in the formation of
ASCII Microsoft Ltd, and he
gained exclusive rightstosell all
Microsoft products in the Far
East.

During the pioneering days of
the late Seventies, Microsoft
produced many other languages
for microcomputers, but there
was sti 1 1 the need to convert their
early 8080 version of MS BASIC
for other microprocessors. Bet-
ter microprocessors, such as
Z80 and 6809, had been de-
veloped and even 16 bit microp-
rocessors which could process
twice as much data as eight bit
processors were becoming
readily available.

In 1980 Microsoft invested in
a DEC mainframe computer.
This was to be used as a
development tool for writing
various versions of the ever
popular Microsoft BASIC. Gates
and Allen rewrote their BASIC
into a neutral language they had
devised and wrote a conversion
program which would automati-
cally translate the neutral lan-
guage into machi ne code for any
particular processor.

This meant they wouldn't have
to waste so much time on
conversion. Thisalso meantthat
a particular feature of one di-
alect of MS BASIC could be quite
easily added to another even
though the processor used was
quite different.

Both in Japan and the United
States many versions of MS
BASIC were sold. A Microsoft
BASIC compiler was launched so
that the BASIC would have speed
comparable to Machine Code,
unlike ordinary interpreted MS
BASIC. In Britain machines from
Oric and Dragon had Microsoft
BASIC and the American Com-
modore VIC and C64 computers
also used a dialect of Microsoft
BASIC.

In June 1980, Paul Allen was
working on a 16 bit version of
Microsoft BASIC for Intel’s new
8088 and 8086 processors.
Both had the capability of hand-
ling twice as much information
as early 8 bit chips could,
although the 8088 was less
powerful. This BASIC was to be
called GW BASIC.

The following month, Bill
Gates had a phone call from the
biggest computer company in
the world . The company was IBM
and they were interested in
Microsoft's software.

The following year was spent
developing the IBM PC. Micro-
soft was responsible for all the
software including the operating
system — that's what you need
to control the computer before it
can handle BASIC. Microsoft
was also able to persuade IBM to
create an open system that
allowed peripheral devices to be
plugged into slots.

The language which Microsoft
gave to IBM PC, GW BASIC, was
something special, too. Pre-
viously, ordinary BASIC could
only handle accuracy up to nine
digits. That means that the
maximum number you can have
without losing accuracy is
9,999,999.99. Now if you are
running a business and you want
to do your accounts with MS

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BASIC, and if your turnover
exceeds ten million, the compu-
ter will not give you an accurate
figure. To be a viable business
computer the IBM PC needed
more than nine digit accuracy.
Microsoft rewrote all arithmetic
routines in their GW BASIC so
that it could handle up to 14
digits with total accuracy.
999,999,999,999.99 is a pret-
ty big number and even IBM
hasn't the turnover to exceed
this.

The disk operating system,
MS-DOS, more commonly
known as PC DOS, was de-
veloped by Tim Paterson of
Seattle Computer Products.

The IBM PC was announced in
August 1981 and became the
most successful and most im-
itated business computer in the
world. Now, though IBM may
seem a long way removed from
MSX, there is a good reason for
bringing them into the picture.
The philosophy behind MSX
came from the IBM PC work.

Two businessmen were the
catalyst for the birth of MSX. In
the summer of 1982, two Amer-
ican businessmen, Alex Weiss
and Harry Fox, decided to set up
a microcomputer company,
Spectra video, after seeing the
rapid expansion of Atari and
Commodore.

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War Games’ hero David LIghtman was
based around Bill Gates’ exploits.
Spectravideo SV-318 was the micro
that spurred MSX. RIk and Sting,
right, wrote most of the BASIC, while
Bill Gates and Paul Allen, above,
founded the Microsoft empire

They were f ami I iar with manu-
facturing facilities in Hong Kong
as they had traded in digital
watches before, and they reck-
oned that they could build a
home computer for less than
$30, selling it for $100. They
had a basic hardware design
done in Hong Kong but they
needed a BASIC for it. The
natural choice was Microsoft.

Although incorporated in New
York, Weiss and Fox were based
in Hong Kong. From there they
tried to contact Microsoft. After
two months of business letters,
telephones and telexes, they

centres were like. A typical
hacker, he knew roughly what
kind of BASIC a good micro-
computer should have and he
did the software specification
design for the Spectravideo
machine.

So, ASCII Microsoft agreed to
do Spectravideo's BASIC. By
1982 ASCII's Tokyo office had
the same DEC development
computer as Microsoft US and
their staff had been fully trained
at Seattle. Now, enter two more
characters.

The people who did the nitty
gritty hard work for creating the
Spectravideo's BASIC were two
Japanese whizz kids called Rick
and Jay. They were the ones who
designed the system architec-
ture, Machine Coding and all
that mind boggling software
which many of us would be glad
to keep away from.

So, we have all the actors on
stage — Bill, Kay, Sting, Rick
and Jay. Together they created
the Spectravideo micro which
eventually led to MSX.

It happened like this. They
decided to bring together all the
good bits from the previous work
they had done and stick it into a

were to I d to conta ct ASC I I as they
handled all Far Eastern affairs.
Finally they got through to the
ever omni present Kay N i sh i , who
immediately flew into Hong
Kong after seeing their speci-
fication for the Spectravideo
micro.

Neither Fox or Weiss were
computer buffs so in order to
liase with ASCII and Microsoft,
they hired Steve Ting, known to
his friends as Sting. Sting is an
unusual character. Previously,
he had been to half a dozen
universities i n the U n ited States,
just to see what the computer

32KROM.

Sting demanded that the
BASIC should be far better than
their earlier effort for eight bit
micros because by 1982 there
were many machines with a
BASIC superiorto MS BASIC. The
new SVI BASIC or MS BASIC 4.5
was to have full screen editing.
They decided to use a lot of so
called 'hooks' which made the
BASIC interruptable, thus mak-
ing it easier to expand and
capable of handling many tasks
at once.

The computer hardware be-
came much more expandable

than Spectravideo initially in-
tended, by providing 'slots' as on
the IBM PC. To you and I 'slots'
are cartridge ports on an MSX
into which you can plug in just
about anything. They also used
the 14 digit accuracy arithmetic
routines from GW BASIC.

Sting wanted more. He de-
manded that BASIC 4.5 should
be able to handle long variable
names and also have structured
statements such as DO LOOPs
and WHILE and WEND which all
serious computer buffs love.
These never made it, simply
because Rick and Jay ran out of
space in the 32K ROM.

‘Sting demanded that
the BASIC should be far
better than their earlier
effort for eight bit
micros’

Apparently developing the SVI
BASIC was not as straightfor-
ward as they hoped. Bringing in
this routine and that from other
BASICS was a fine idea. It meant
that you didn't have to write the
codes from scratch. In fact some
of the codes written by Bi 1 1 Gates
and Paul Allen are still left in the
MSX Basic, although I am not
sure which routines they are.
However, putting in 'hooks'
meant that every Machine Code
routine had to be modified a bit
to make it jump to the 'hooks'.
And there are hundreds of little
routines in MS BASIC.

What's more, these routines
were not written by one program-
mer. By the time Jay and Rick
started on the SVI BASIC, the
previous MS BASIC had gone
through so many rewrites that
many people knew some of the
routines but no one person knew
all of them. Some of those
people had even left Microsoft!
What was worse was that these
people were mainly based in
Seattle and Rick and Jay were in
Japan. The result was that Rick
had to shuttle from Seattle to
Tokyo dozens of times.

By winter 1982/83 the
machine was ready. The design
was modified so that it could
have up to 256Kof RAM, plug-in
80column cardsand diskdrives.
Italsomeantthatthepriceofthe
machine rose but the Spectra-
video machine could be used as
a business machine.

SVI 328 and 728 were re-
leased in mid-1983 i n the United

States but by that time the
microcomputer business was in
such a chaotic state that Spec-
travideo didn't do as well as Alex
and Harry hoped.

After delivering the SVI com-
puters, Rick and Jay didn't stop
work. Kay Nishi had ideas. He
had long hoped to seta standard
for home computers so that all
software and peripherals will be
compatible with one another.
His friends in the industry
agreed . Before MSX there were
so many computers incompati-
ble with each other, yet most of
them used Microsoft BASIC.

When Kay realised how good
the Spectravideo machines
were, hejustknewthat everyone
would use it as a standard if it
was put to them . So i n the wi nter
of 1982/83 Kay went to see
about 20 companies saying "I've
got this ace system , do you want
to go for it?"

The reaction, especially, from
Panasonic and Sony was enthu-
siastic. Both companies had
their own micros with MS BASIC
and neither were making money.
They jumped at the idea and so
did more than a dozen other
companies, including Spectra-
video.

By June 1983 Kay Nishi and
Bill Gates announced the MSX
standard with 15 manufacturers
backing it. But back on ASCII's
DEC, Rick and Jay were still
'improving' BASIC 4.5, now, the
MSX BASIC, code-named 'corn-
flake' after BIG K cornflakes. By
now, the Spectravideo hardware
and software had been modified
enough to be regarded as a
different system so that the
companies involved had to
negotiate with Microsoft rather
than Spectravideo.

MSX could now be expanded
uptoone Mega Byte, the number
of hooks had been increased
and the BASIC better debugged.
Rick and Jay didn't stop coding
until a few weeks before the
actual machine came out. Rick
believes some of the early MSX
machines may have gone out
with an EPROM instead of the
proper MSX ROM.

After the MSX BASIC was

completed, they had to develop
the MSX DOS. Kay got Tim
Patterson who did the MS DOS
forlBMPCtodothis. RickandJay
d idn't stop when the MSX project
finished. By August 1983 they
wereworkingonMSX2whichwill
be compatible with MSX 1.

And that's the history of
MSX BASIC, so far.

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REWRITE THE HIGH

\

SCORE TABLES

So, you’ve got a MSX. You’ve also got enemies. With the Gunshot, you’ll have all the opposition

cowering in corners. 8-directional action and an all-in-one moulded stem allows accuraR

annihilation and strength to survive those all-night sessions. Dual fire buttons
for fading fingers (and a rapid fire version when they’re really coming thick
and fast). And, If you break it (and we know you’ll try) our 12-month guarantee
will prove invaluable. Only £8.95.

The Gunshot plugs directly into any MSX home computer.

See the range of Vulcan joysticks and interfaces at
your local stockist...
we’ll see you on the high
score tables.

ELECTROmCS LTD

200 BRENT STRECT HENDON NW4 1 BH TEL: 01-203 6366

WeVe assembled
twenty top Joysticks

for this giant group
test Debbie
Goldfinch has been
trying them out

A Joystick is a games con-
troiler that piugs into
your micro to give you
easier and faster control over
your games playing than that
offered by the keyboard. Joy-
sticks come in many different
styles; some don’t have a
‘stick’ as such, they may have a
touch-sensitive pad, buttons
or a rotating ball. They can
make a big difference to your
games performance — just as
the right equipment for any
activity can improve your per-
formance, and add to your
enjoyment.

Many have rubber suction
cups togripthe tabletop, some
have rubber feet to give them
some purchase and others are
designed solely to be held in
the hand. Models often have
two fire buttons, one being for
rapid fire which is useful for
fast games. Most joysticks
give you eight directions of
movement. Lead lengths vary,
so if you like to move around
while you play, lookfora longer
lead. Prices vary greatly too,
but you don't need to spend a
fortune to get a good per-
former.

If you are a keen games
player, you will want the Joy-
stick that is the most suitable
to help you notch up that high
score, and that does not fal I to
pieces when you are in the
middle of saving the planet
from imminent destruction by
theThargoids.

So what should you look for
when choosing a Joystick?
Firstly, decide how much you
want to spend and check for
compatibilitywith your compu-
ter. Then make sure that it's
comfortable to hold and that
you can easily reach the fire
button. Check that it's stable
and won't skid about, and that

the handle doesn't feel too
'sloppy' or too stiff when you
move it.

Does the Joystick feel
sturdy? Itwill have to withstand
a lot of rough treatment, so
ensure that the model you like
comes with a decent guaran-
tee. Finally, nomatterifitlooks
like you should be saying
'Beam me up, Scotty' into it or
using it to pilot the Space
Shuttle, if you like the design
and it meets the other stan-
dards — get it!

I n our test, we feature twenty

models of Joystick and have
examined them in order of
price, starting with the least
expensive. We used three
different games to try out the
sticks performance — Hyper
Olympics, a two-way type game
where you must move left, right
and Jump (fire); Sparkie, a
four-way maze game and
SuperCobra, whereyou arethe
pilot of a helicopter flying over
a landscape avoiding or shoot-
ing missiles, dropping bombs
and picking up booty — an
eight-way style game.

The specification chart lists
all the joysticks in alphabetical
order and gives you all the
relevant details — price, and
number of fire buttons for
example, at a glance.

All the Joysticks had been
well used in the office before
the test began, so we had a fair
idea of how well they would
survive the wear and tear they
might be subjected to in home
use. Our verdict is at the end of
the reports.

Junior Pro £5.99

This joystick is small enough
tof it comfortably into one hand
and has four rubber feet that
help stop it from sliding on a'
table top. It Is very good for
8-way, positive and quick with
little movement needed to get
good response from It.

The Joystick does give good

control and fast response for 2 ,
4 and 8-way games and it has a
good sized 'rounded crescent'
shaped fire button. It is good
looking, simple, lightweight,
easy to hold and a good
performer. Junior Pro is only
marred by the poor design of
the knob on the stick's end.

JoyCard £7.45

The Joy Card is a games
controllerofsmall, 'creditcard'
design. If you have large
hands, it can be a tricky model
to operate. The two fire buttons
are placed rather close
together, but It feels strong
and has no moving parts to
wear out.

For 8-way Super Cobra, it
was not too good on rapid
change of direction and
seemed rather Jerky. For 2-
way, it was practically impos-
sible to even qualify with the
Joy Card, and for 4-way Spar-
kle, it was difficult to change

direction. With a lot of prac-
tise, it could be a reasonable
performer — but I don't hear
any cries of ‘Don't leave home
without one'!

UghtnIngDeluxe £7.50

The Lightning is a light-
weight, black and red Joystick.
It has four sucker feet that grip
quitef irmly and two reasonably
sized fire buttons, one on the
top of the stick, the other on the
base. For 8-way SuperCobra, it
responded well but felt like it
was going to fall apart at any
minute. It seemed to have a
mind of its own and was not
good for fine movements.

It worked quite well for
2-way, requiring only small
movement of the stick for
response. For 4-way, the fire
button was fast and movement
was precise. One complaint
with this one was that the
handle, although comfortable,
would be better if it was
slimmer. Otherwise, it'sagood
value Joystick.

Atari CX-40 £7.99

Very simple in design, this
Joystick is slow and uncomfort-
able and needs a lot of effort to
get movement from it for 4-way

games. The single fire button
is poor in response and for
2-way, it is again slow. It
performs I ittle betterf or 8-way,
it's still very stiff, a bit Jerky on
diagonals and not at all com-
fortable. It has four effective
non-slip feet, but not much
else to recommend it.

Silk Stik £8.95

This is a nice looking, smal-
lish Joystick, neat and simple
in design and robustly built. It
fits comfortably into the hand
and the short stick has a
marble-sized round knob at the
end of it. The fire button is quite
well placedtothetopleftofthe
stick. For 4-way games, the
stick did n't give positive move-
ment and was slow to respond
although the fire button work-
ed well.

It was better for 2-way, with
I ittle effort needed to get a fast
speed, and little discomfort. It

didn't operate well with the
8-way; the fire button seemed
slow and the stick too small to
easily handle the eight direct-
ions of movement. It was not
easy to control and gave a
rather erratic performance.

Delta 3SIVI £9.95

This hand held Joystick
wasn't a good overall perfor-
mer. For 8-way games, it was
slow to react and degree of
movement needed to pi lot the
helicopter in the game was too
great. In Hyper Olympics, you
have to put in a lot of work
because the stick is so small.

It was a little better for 4-way
games, giving reasonable con-
trol and fast fire, with a choice
of three buttons, but once
again these could have been
bigger. It is not bad looking,
light-weight, and the casing
seems robust but the stick
feels very flimsy. It is not real ly
star quality.

Atari CX-24 £9.99

This Atari is an unusual
looking Joystick with two large
orange fire buttons sited on the
side of the casing, and a stick
centred Just below these. Both
casing and stick are wel I made
and look like they are built to
last. The stick moves well, and
you don't need to move it too far
to get good response for 8 and
4-way, and a fast speed for
2-way.

It is comfortable to hold and
the stick has a good-sized knob
with raised moulding for extra
grip. The fire buttons are a bit
confusing until you get used to
them, but are a good size and
well positioned. This light-
weight model is a pleasure to
use and turns in a good per-
formance every time.

StarFIghter £10.95

Billed by Suncom as ‘the
ultimate Joystick', this acco-
lade seems a little too enthusi-
astic. It wasn't a great Joystick
for 8-way, it was passable for
up. down, right, left but was
sluggish in response and un-
comfortable to use. It was
hopelessf or HyperOlympics—
it seems unlikely that it could
even manage an 'egg and
spoon' race at a local school
sportsday!

The stick is too short to be
gripped easily and the base
has no grip on a table top. The
fire button was sluggish for the
4-way game and the Joystick
generally slow to respond. The
only thing in its favour is that it
does seem strongly made and
the price is reasonable.

QulckshotSVl-101 £11.95

The Quickshot 1 has four
stable sucker feet and a raised
moulded section on the left
hand side of the base incorp-
orating a fire button. The
moulded handle, which has
another fire button on the top,
is far too fat to be comfortable
to hold. For 8-way games you
have to move the handle a lotto
getanythingoutof it.anditfelt
a little sloppy.

The fire buttons were only
average in response. It didn’t
break any world records in
Hyper Olympics and it gave an

average to slow performance
for 4-way games. On the whole,
it was disappointing because it
was quite nicely designed and
seemed well made but it’s
performance f el I short of the
mark.

Gunshot 1 £11.95

The Gunshot has a fat,
uncomfortable handle which
feelsvery flimsy but which was,
in fact, excellent in response
for 8-way games. The two fire
buttons were both easily
accessible and positive. For
the 2-way game, the fat hand le
feels rather loose and it took a
lotof effortto getany speed out
of the joystick.

For 4-way, it was once again
a good performer, responding
well and with a snappy fire
button. It has four sucker feet
which hold the table top firmly.
The Gunshot is not the most
attractive looking Joystick
around; it’s rather bulky and
finished in cream and a drab
pale khaki colour, and the
handle is too fat — but it
certainly redeems itself in
operation.

Competition Pro 3000 £12.75

This Joystick is comfortable
to use but has a rather I ight and
insubstantial feel to it. It’s
quite nice in design and has
three fire buttons, two on the
handle and one large pad on
the base. For 8-way, the fire
button was good and well
positioned, but the stick was
difficult to move and poor on
diagonal movement.

For 2-way, the stick didn’t
offer good control and was
slow. It was less than good for
4-way, being sluggish and
unresponsive with a slow fire
button. Not a very good Joystick
if you’re aiming for record
breaking scores.

SuperChamp £12.95

An unusual Joystick, this; it
looks I ike a flying saucer with a
handle. The flex can be wound
in to the base. The four sucker
feet real ly do grip the table top
firmly and it stays put during
even the most enthusiastic
use. For Hyper Olympics it is
possible to get a very fast
speed with this model, but you
expend a lotof energy doing it.

For 8-way it wasn’t bad, but
onceagainyou have to thrash it
to get a response. The whole
centre section moves which
gives the unfortunate feeling

that the Joystick is about to fall
apart at any minute!

The fire buttons on the top
and front of the handle are
good because you only need to
concentrate on moving. Not a
bad performer, but it is rather
bulky to handle.

Competition Pro 5000 £13.50

The Competition Pro doesn’t
have suckers. Just rubber feet
and it is not easy to get a proper
grip on it without putting your
hand over one of the fire
buttons. It does have a large
round ball at the end of the
stick which is particularly com-
fortable to use and the two big
fire buttons are easy to hit. It’s
good for 8-way Super Cobra,
although the response could

be a bit crisper. For the 2-way
game, the stick movement was
a bit sloppy.

Apart from this, itwaseasyto
use and gave a fast speed, but

it was rather Jerky on 4-way. It
seems quite a sturdy Joystick,
but not particularly inspiring in
design.

CanonVJ200 £15

This is Canon’sversionof the
MSX Joystick. Several of the
other MSX manufacturers in-
cluding JVC and Mitsubishi
have produced similar models
with different coloured fire
buttons.

A large orange fire button
covers almost the whole of the
top of the stick and it has a
supplementary fire button on
the base. Both are well placed
and for 4 and 8-way games
were good in response.

The stick is Joined to the
base by a sort of ball and
socket Joint and feels very
sloppy. Despite this, it was
effective and responded well in
the 8-way Super Cobra game
and equally well in 4-way
Sparkie. It feels rather flimsy,
but it is comfortable to use and
gives a good account of itse I f i n
games.

Tac-2 £15.95

TheTac-2 is a bit like the Slik
Stik’s big brother in design,
and once again looks good and
seems very strongly made. It
has two large fire buttons
either side of the stick, and the
stick itself has a large round
black ball on the end that fits
comfortably into the palm of
the hand. For 2-way, it only
required a little movement to
get a respectable speed out of
it, and it was good to use. For
8-way, it didn't perform so well
and seemed to make move-
ment rather Jerky.

However, it was comfortable

to use, if somewhat sluggish,
whichwasdisappointing. If you
have large hands, another
problem which arises is that
the short length of stick makes
it difficult to get a good grip. It
seems to be quite competent
for 4-way, but not that easy to
use.

HyperShot £15.99

Hyper Shot is designed
especially for Track and Field
style games. It is a large, white
box-shaped device, quite styl-
ish, with two large red buttons.

oneforjumpandoneforrun. Its
four rubber feet are rather
sma 1 1 . but by design you hold it
quite steady with both hands
anyway. For 2- way games it is
not bad. but rather limited.
However, it doesn’t require
much effort to get a fast speed
with it. It is well made and, with
no moving handle, will prob-
ably last wel I . The Hyper Shot is
not designed for 4 or 8-way
games.

JoySensor £19.95

The Joy Sensor really does
look like the sort of thing that
Captain Kirk might use to
communicate with the SS
Enterprise. It is a lightweight
silver games controller, and is
touch sensitive. It is not easy to
use unlessyou have had a lot of
practice, but once mastered it
is exceptionally quick to re-
spond.

It’s quite good for 8-way
games and although the fire

panel could be a bit closer to
the direction control, you can
Just keep your finger on to fire
continuously. There is a choice
of fire and rapid fire available. I
actually got a blistered finger
when using the Joy Sensor to
play Hyper Olympics, but did
clock up some very fast

Model

Number of Fire
Buttons

Moving

Direction

Fast

Fire

Feet

Length of

Price

2-Way

4-Way

8-Way

Supplier

Atari CX-40

1

Sway

No

Rubber

feet

120cm

£7.99

★ ★

★

★

Atari International
(0753) 33344

Atari CX-24

2

Sway

No

none

150cm

£9.99

★ ★★★

★ ★★

★ ★★

Atari International

Canon VJ200

2

Sway

No

Suction

cups

120cm

£15.00

★ ★★

★ ★★★

★ ★★★

Canon (UK) Ltd
01-773 3173

Competition
Pro 3000

3

Sway

No

Rubber

feet

150cm

£12.75

★ ★

★ ★

★★★

Kempston Micro
Electronics
(0234) S56633

Competition
Pro 5000

2

Sway

No

Rubber

feet

150cm

£13.50

★★

★ ★★

★ ★★

1

Kempston Micro
Electronics

Computer

Command

2

Sway

Yes

Rubber

feet

150cm

£27.95

★★

★ ★★

★ ★★★

Computer Games Ltd
01-50S 5600

Delta 3SM

3

Infinite

Yes

Rubber

feet

130cm

£9.95

★

★ ★

★

Voltmace
(0462) S94410

Gunshot 1

2

Sway

No

Suction

cups

135cm

£11.95

★ ★

★★★★

★ ★★
★ ★

Vulcan Electronics
01-203 6366

Hypershot

2

n/a

No

Rubber

feet

110cm

£15.99

★ ★★

n/a

n/a

Konami Ltd
01-429 2446

Joycard

2

Sway

No

Hand

held

120cm

£7.45

★

★ ★

★★

Hudsonsoft (UK) Ltd
01-4583310

Joy Sensor

Touch

Sensitive Pad

Infinite

Yes

Hand

held

150cm

£19.95

★ ★

★ ★★

★ ★

Consumer Electronics
(061) 682 2339

Junior Pro

1

Sway

No

Rubber

feet

150cm

£5.99

★ ★★

★ ★★

★ ★★

Kempston Micro
Electronics

Lightning

Deluxe

2

Sway

No

Suction

cups

120cm

£7.50

★ ★★

★★★★

★ ★★

Lightning
01-969 5255

Quickshot 1

2

Sway

No

Suction

cups

120cm

£11.95

★ ★

★★

★

Spectravideo
01-330 0101

SlikStik

1

Sway

No

Plastic

ridges

150cm

£S.95

★ ★★★

★ ★

★

Consumer Electronics

Sony JS-55

3

Sway

No

Rubber

feet

115cm

£19.95

★ ★

★ ★★

★★★

Sony (UK) Ltd
(81) 61688

Sony JS-75

3

Sway

No

Hand

held

n/a

£64.95

★ ★★

★★

★ ★★

Sony (UK) Ltd

Starfighter

1

Sway

No

Plastic

ridges

150cm

£10.95

★ ★

★★

★★

Consumer Electronics

Super Champ

2

12 way

No

Suction

cups

300cm

£12.95

★ ★★

★★

★ ★★

Dean Electronics
(0344) 885661

Tac-2

2

Sway

No

Plastic

ridges

ISOcm

£15.95

★ ★★★

★ ★★

★ ★

Consumer Electronics

Scoring for games ★ poor ★ ★ average ★ ★ ★ good ★ ★ ★ ★ very good ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ excellent

speeds. It is good for 8-way
games because of its fast
response but you do tend to
zoom off in the wrong direction
unless you concentrate.

SonyJS-55 £19.95

If you've always wanted to be
a racing driver, this is the
joystick for you. Unfortunately,
it's performance doesn't quite
match its looks. The base feels
solid and looks hardwearing
but the movement feels very
flimsy. There is an option of
three fire buttons; two small
ones on either side of the stick
top and a large pad on the

base.

For 8-way, movement was
imprecise and sloppy although
thef ire buttons responded wel I
and for 2-way it was sluggish.
For the 4-way Sparkie, it's
performance was much better
— good and fast with the fire
buttons on the handle. On the
whole, the JS-55 is a very nice
piece of equipment, comfort-
able to use, sturdily built and
good-looking — but it's not
quite Grand Prix Formula One.

Computer Command £27.95

The Computer Command is a
very sturdy feeling Joystick and
is Wico's only MSX-compatible
joystick. They do have a good
range of joysticks (listed in the
buyers guide), but until the
interface at £4.99 is available
they won't operate fully with

MSX. It is quite good looking,
with a cream and brown base
and a large red handle. It has
four rubber feet on the base
which stopped it sliding about

reasonably well. The comfort-
able handle is contoured to fit
the hand. Afire button on top of
the handle is easy to reach with
your thumb and there is also a
good sized fire button on the
base.

The handle allows 8-way
movement and is not sloppy —
ifanythingit'sa bittoofirm.lt is
not good for the 2-way Hyper
Olympics where the faster you
waggle the handle, the faster
you go, but for the 4-way it was
good with the well sited fire
button. For the 8-way it was
very good, positive in move-
ment and quick to respond.

SonyJS-75 £64.95

This is a remote control
joystick controller, and looks
very stylish. It comes complete
with interface that plugs. into
your computer and has no lead
— you j ust poi nt it at the screen
and away you go. However, you
still have to select your game
option from the keyboard so
you are still tied to the micro,
which seems to make remote

control rather pointless. The
controller has three fire but-
tons, two small blue ones on
thesideanda large pad on top.
They respond well and are
easily accessible.

The short handle is uncom-
fortable and difficult to hold.
For 2-way games, the con-

troller gives fast speeds, but
takes quite a lot of effort to
operate. For 8-way, control is
quite good but not as good as
that of conventional joysticks.
The JS-75 feels sturdy and,
gives an adequate perform-
ance for 4-way but is
exceptionally uncomfortable
to use. It is obviously well
made, but does seem rather
gimmicky and is not really
worth the comparatively ex-

pensive price. It's not the
control ler to go for if you want
to notch up megascores.

Verdict

Buying a Joystick is very
much a matter of personal
preference, and It’s ciear from
the test that although you do
tend to get very much what you
pay for — a reasonably priced
model, such as the Atari CX-40
at £7.99 often gives a very
creditable performance,
whereas the latest super-
gadget can be a real let down.

The main criterion seems to
be to set yourself a top price,
and then go and try those
models within that range.
Don’t choose the cheapest— It
may not be cheap in the long
run if It wears out quickly,
breaks or you find it In-
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better one — get the best that
you can afford, and most
Important, get one that
feels comfortable and
performs well for you. Hi

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ESTABLISHED29 YEARS

Learning to use your
computer can seem a
daunting task. We’ve
been finding out how
to get computer
education

T here is more to life and
computers than zapping
myriads of mutated Mar-
tians. If you’ve been presented
with an MSX at Christmas or
are counting your pennies with
the intention of investing in
one, the only way you can
Justify the costs is to learn how
to use it properly
Playing games for hours and
days on end can get very boring
indeed. To squeeze the abso-
lute maximum out of yourMSX,
you are going to have to learn
what its potential really is.

Those of you still at school
will probably have already
learned something about com-
puters, but if you left school
wel I before the home computer
revolution really started you
will probably feel rather fright-
ened by them.

It’s important to remember
that anyone can program a
computer — evenyourfiveyear
old daughter is probably learn-
ing to break into the national
defence system with a modem .
But it needs commitment and
does take time, practice and a
lot of patience.

A computer will do anything
you tell itto. Itcannotthinkfor
itself and so if you make a
catastrophic error like tel ling it
to erase a week’s worth of
programs i nstead of te 1 1 i ng it to
save them, that is exactly what
it will do. Poof, a week’s work
gone. It would have been
obvious to anyone but the
computer that you'd meant
save.

Factors to consider in your
search for computer know-
ledge are whether you prefer to
work on your own, the amount
of spare time you have,
whether you entertain

thoughts of actually gaining a
recognised computer qual-
ification and of course your
geographical location. If you
live in London, the opportuni-
ties for courses on computers
are probably greater than i n the
heights of the Scottish High-
lands.

As the MSX machines have
only been on sale to the British
pubi ic for the last few months,
the avai labi I ity of MSX specific
books and courses are few and
far between. We have had to
concentrate on the general-
ised computer courses and
books, workingon the principle
that once you’ve grasped the
basics of a computer and its
capabilities you can easily
adapt the ideas to the MSX.

Options include evening or
day classes, courses of further
education, short introductory
courses, teaching yourself
with the aid of books or even
videos. Whichever option you
choose will depend on the
time, money and effort you are
prepared to devote to the
pursuit of computer literacy.

If your time is valuable,
evening or day classes may be
one of the most convenient
ways of teaching yourself
something about computers.
The local education authority
will give you advice on what
courses have been arranged
and these are usually held in
adult education establish-
ments. We investigated the
courses held in South West
London by the Richmond Adult
College and found courses
varying from Computer Prog-
ramming in BASIC for begin-
ners to a course studying the
computer’s insides. They are
held during the week, in the
evenings and on Saturday
mornings and usually last for
two hours. The courses are
spread out over 12 to 24 weeks
and start in September, the
beginning of the academic
year. The Richmond Adult Col-
lege charges £31.20 for a
course lasting 24 weeks.

These courses will give you
excel lent background informa-
tion on computer programming
and obviously any problems

you have with MSX program-
mi ng ca n be d iscussed with the
tutorand other members of the
class. The sharing of informa-
tion and problems is one of the
advantages of learning in a
group.

For those of you needing
instant computer information,
short week-end courses have
multiplied in the last year and
are held all over the country.
The organisers usual ly include
food and overnight accomoda-
tion in the price of the course.
The classified sections of the
computer magazines are a
good source of this type of
course.

Unfortunately these are
generally held on computers
other than the MSX. For inst-
ance Gainsborough House

based in the Severn Valley
works with the Commodore 64.
This probably won’t present a
problem, because the aim of a
short course is to become
familiar with computers and
their potential. The Micro
Learning Centre in Bourne-
mouth actually adapt their
courses for whatever computer
you possess including the
MSX. Prices on these computer
jaunts varies, but the weekend
course atGainsborough House
costs an all inclusive £70
covering Friday evening to
Sunday afternoon.

Correspondence computer
courses are gaining popularity
and are especially useful for
MSX owners either living in the
middle of nowhere or who
prefer to work on their own. The

We went to a computer class at
Gainsborough College. A weekend's
course Introduced the BASIC language
and programming

Video tuition Is an alternative offered
by Computer Television. Chris Serle Is
the presenter of a general Introduction
to the world of computing

the number of subjects taken
and the registration fee.

The only problem with this
type of course is that the
enthusiasm and incentives
usually created by attending a
group class are missing.

The short introductory
courses give you an opportun-
ity to familiarise yourself with
computers very quickly, but if
you are really bitten by the
computer bug and you decide
that you must know more about
your computer perhaps a long
course with the possibil ity of a
recognised qualification atthe
end should be considered.

The local library will be an
excellent source of informa-
tion on course options avail-
able and the assistants are
always willing to point you

Council for the Accreditation of
Correspondence courses will
give details on associations
arranging approved computer
courses. Wolsey Hall at the
Oxford Business School runs
course catering for all abilities
ranging from those for com-
plete beginners to detailed
courses for competent compu-
ter professionals.

Written study units are sup-
plemented by cassettes and
these are sent to the student.
Tests and written exercises
have to be completed and sent
back to personal tutors for
correction. Examinations can
be taken at the end although
they are not compulsory and
any urgent problems can be
dealt with by phone. Course
prices vary and depend on

towards the relevant books and
college prospectuses once
you’ve explained what you
want. But, first you have to
decide what sort you are in-
terested in.

Local education authorities
are again the best equipped to
provide you with information
on computer courses. The In-
ner London Educational Au-
thority (ILEA) have compiled
Floodlight, a guide giving de-
tails on part time and evening
classes in Inner London. It is
available from ILEA for 50
pence.

Many of the courses men-
tioned in Floodlight lead to
professional qualifications,
but every ability and interest is
catered for. Everything from
Research degrees in Computer
Science and Numerical Analy-
sistothe Hobby Computer Club
can be found.

Looking through the guide,
we discovered courses on
Computer Graphics, Introduc-
tion to Machine Code Program-
ming and Z80 Machine Code.
Once you’ve decided what your
interest is all you have to do is
check that you are available
when the classes are held in
your area! Some of them do
need ‘A’ Level or 'O' Level
qualifications before you can
enrol.

If you become seriously in-
terested in computers an'^ are
considering using the compu-
ter in the office or in a small
business perhaps a vocational
ratherthan a recreational com-
puter course might be a good
idea. These often involve tak-
ing days off work and will result
in a qualification. We enquired
at the library about the day
release computer courses and
were handed the Index of
Courses of Further Education,
a booklet written by the local
council representing local au-
thorities, institutions, univer-
sities and validating bodies.

Again, many of them would
need A-Level or similar qual-
ificationstojoin. Varioustypes
of course arrangements exist:
full-time — 9 to 5 Monday to
Friday; sandwich — full-time
with period of time of f towork i n
a Job using skills learned;
block release — the student
gets time off work to study;
part-time day/evening, a cou-
ple of evenings a week and
flexi-study — students work
and study by arrangement with
the college. Most of these
courses will need special
arrangements with employers
or, if you are unemployed, will
need to be financed.

TCACH YOUma^

Computer

Programming

iMfiX BASIC

Books aplenty will teach you about all aspects of computing

Due to the recent surge in
the home computer’s popular-
ity, collegesofferingcomputer
courses have proliferated.
Some are better than others
and so it is important to
remember that unscrupulous
members of the community
(often known as conmen!) do
exist and that their only aim in
I if e is to set u p bogus computer
colleges, prise as much money
out of you as possible for very
little in return.

Neil Trilby, Information
Officer of the British Computer
Society (BCS), advised us that
"if someone is really interested
in becoming relatively profi-
cient with computers, they
should shop around and go for
a course with recognised qual-
ification at the end of it, the
City and Guilds for example."
We asked him if there was any
way of distinguishing the good
from the bad and Neil advised
us that "one of the tricks of a
badcompanyisto tell potential
customers that they must hurry
up and pay the money, other-
wise the place will go.” This
forces people into making a
decision they may regret later.
"People have the right to make
their own choice in their own
time”, said Neil. The BCS
themselves hold computer
proficiency examinations.
Contact the BCS for further
information.

Computer clubs are another
good source of computer in-
formation, although according
to Bill McCool, Press Officer of
the National Computing Cen-
tre, they are really aimed at the
"computer hackers — adv-
anced people who treat that
kind of person (computer
novice) nicely — a little bit
patronisingly!” In the Man-
chester computer club. Bill
told us, they have computer
query sessions where people
can get help with any program-
ming problems they may be
having. They plan projects like
building computers out of hair-
dryer motors and occasionally
for lightamusementoneofthe
members gives a talk on “how I
wrote a new computer lan-
guage!”

Obviously not every single
club in the country caters for
the computer whizz kids, but
generally they are made up of
people with a fairly advanced
knowledge. However, every-
one has to start somewhere
and if you're persistent
enough, you will eventually

find yourself to be one of the
hackers!

To find out if there is one
near to you contact the Asso-
ciation of Computer Clubs
(ACC) who will refer you to the
nearest one. If they can’t find
one near enough, ask in local
computer shops and examine
library, school and church
noticeboards. Local newspap-
ers and the computer special-
ist press may also yield in-
formation.

Books are another good
source for those of you in-
terested in learning more ab-
out, not only your MSX compu-
ter, but about computers in
general and their possible
applications in both the home
and office. MSX books are
rapidly increasing in number.

For the complete beginner,
the followi ng books may come
in handy: MSX Exposed by Joe
Pritchard from Melbourne
House; Teach yourself Prog-
ramming in MSX BASIC from
Hodder and Stoughton, and
from Honeyfold Software, the
Beginners Basic Course for
MSX and a Beginners Assem-

bly Course for MSX.

Programmer reference
guides are essential for any-
one with a computer and there
should be two in the shops this
month: The Complete Prog-
rammers Reference Guide by
Tom Sato, P. Mapstone and I.
Muriel from Melbourne House
and A Programmers Guide To
The MSX System by R. Goodley
and C. I. Burkinshaw from
Sigma Press.

For the more experienced
MSX users, MSX Games Book
by A. Lacey from Melbourne
House, Getting More From
Your MSX and Spectravideo by
B. Boyde-Shaw from Sigma
Press and Working With MSX
BASIC by I.Sinclairfrom Collins
may prove useful.

To obtain a general picture
of the computer world it is
essential that you read a wide
variety of books dealing with
various aspects of computers
and their applications. There
are many general books ex-
plaining computers, the va-
rious technologies and some
of the words used in computer
environments. Good examples

are A Glossary of Computing
Terms from the British Compu-
ter Society and The Penguin
Computing Book by S. Curran
and R. Curnow.

Computers have great
potential in the business en-
vironment and literally hun-
dreds of books exist on the
subject. Selecting Business
Software by E. Berman and L
Dewhurst from Frances Pinter,
Fundamentals of Computing
by G. Willmottfrom Heinemann
and Word processing for Be-
ginners by S. Curran from
Granada may give some in-
sight into floppy disks, data
base management and the
advantages of word proces-
sing.

Granada’s Z80 Machine
Code for Humans by A. Toothill
and D. Barrow gives the reader
some insight into program-
ming short Machine Code
routines and Sunshine’s Ap-
plications On Your Micro by M.
Grace gives the reader ideas
on using a home computer in
the home. Games Program-
ming by E. Solomon, Fun
Mathematics by C. Kosniowski
and Creative Computer
Graphics by A. Jankel and R.
Morton all from Cambridge
University Press give the read-
er ideas on using the MSX
creatively.

The books we mentioned are
only intended to be repre-
sentative of the books in the
computer sections of the book
shops, but our I ist wi 1 1 give you
an idea of what is available. If
you can’t afford to rush out and
buy all the latest computer
books, try your local library.

ComputerTele vision, a com-
pany, have even produced a
video called Easy Microcom-
puting, costing £19.95 which
aims to educate the beginner
in computing. Presented ty
Chris Serle of ‘That's Life’ and
‘In at the Deep End' fame, the
tape gives the viewer informa-
tion on the basics of comput-
ing, why he or she should
computerise and gives details
on specific applications.

With all the ideas, advice
and information we have given
you, you and your MSX should
soon be inseparable! There isa
lot more to computers than
playing games and with the
superb Microsoft extended
BASIC language and the excel-
lent sound and graphics capa-
bilities you should soon be
creating your own games h
and programs. H

ADDRESSES

Association of Computer Ciubs

17 Lawrie Park Crescent

London SE26 6HH

Tel: 01 370 0601

British Computer Society

13 Mansfield Street

London Wl

Tel: 01-637 0471

Computer Teievision

9 Cavendish Square

London Wl

Tel: 01 580 6363

Councii for the Accreditation of

Computer Coiieges

27 Marylebone Road

London NWl 5JS

Tel: 01 935 5391

Gainsborough House

Bewdley Hill

Kidderminster

Worcs DYll 6BS

Tel: (0562) 754041

i.L.E.A.

Room 77

County Hall
London Wl
Tel: 01 633 1066

index of Courses for Further
Education

Tavistock House South
Tavistock Square
London WCl 9LR
Tel: 01 388 0027
Micro Learning Centre
10 St Swithins Road South
Bournemouth
Dorset BAl 3RQ
Tel: (0202) 290677
National Computing Centre
Oxford Road
Marichester Ml 7ED
Tel: (061) 228 6333
Richmond Adult College
Clifden Road
Twickenham
Tel: 01 892 2303
Wolsey Hall
66 Banbury Road
Oxford 0X2 6PR
Tel: (0865) 54231

Computer buffs speak
a language all their
own. Here’s a guide to
the Jargon that should
enable you to bluff
your way through any
computer club
conversation

G O to a computer show and
listen to the conversa-
tions. It’s a whole new
language, isn’t It? There’s talk
of mice, handshakes, buses,
ports, flags, loops, clocks,
bits, desktops — enough to
make you think that computer
buffs have taken leave of their
senses. You, the newcomer to
computing, seem to have little
chance convincing the experts
that you know what you’re
talking about. The name of the
game Is Jargon.

Bluffing your way to becom-

ing an apparent expert on
computers isn't difficult. You
can then hold your own when
the talk turns to computers.
Once you gain admittance to a
clique of computer buffs, you’ll
soon start to pick up real
computeracy. Providing you
don’t lose sight of the fact that
not everyone speaks the jar-
gon, you should then be able to
talk about computers to any-
body.

Thefirstthingtodo is to start
using computer buzzwords in
normal conversation. You

don’t ‘connect’ your TV and
video — you 'interface’ them.
You don’t 'look up information’
— you 'access data’. Such
terms show that you are into
computers.

The image is further streng-
thened if your briefcase starts
to bulge with computer maga-
zines. Spend time browsing
through computer magazines
i n Sm iths and borrow computer
books from the public library. If
they are on subjects such as

databases, Machine Code
programming and so on, so
much the better.

Gamesmanship consists of
knowing what the best selling
game are, being able to load
games Into your computer and
managing to get onto the high
score table of at least two
games. Alternatively, know
what happens in a popular
adventure after the first thirty
moves or so (this can be
garnered from games players
or games reviews).

All that then remains is to
have a grasp of the fun-
damentals of computing. So,
pen and paper ready . . . here
we go.

Get your pronunciation right
from the start. If in doubt,
consulta computing dictionary
(an essential requirement for
heavy bluffing). Be sure you
can say things like algorithm,
baud (rhymes with bored) and
heuristic without faltering.
Your computer is a micro,
meaning that the computing
circuitry is all on one silicon
chip, a microprocessor. Strict-
ly speaking, you have a home
micro. A desktop micro is
designed for the business
user, so costs more and is
better suited to business soft-
ware. Amainframeisthesortof
computer that stores DHSS or
DVLC records and databases
such as Prestel. You might
access the latter to get i nf orm-
ation, or try and break into
(hack into) the former.

‘Be sure you can say
things like algorithm,
baud (rhymes with
bored) and heuristic
without faltering*

The computer and peripher-
als you add to it are the
hardware. Programs are soft-
ware, unless they are built into
the computer, in which case
they are firmware.

The i nside of a micro is f i I led
with all sorts of jargon-induc-
ing goodies. Acronyms are the
rage. There's the PCB, the
printed circuit board on which
all the components are
mounted. There's the CPU, or
Central Processing Unit. That's
the computing bit of the com-
puter. In MSX machines it is an
eight bit Z80A processor.
Othertypesofeight bit proces-
sor are the 6809 and 6502.

The Z80A is used in computers
such as the Sinclair Spectrum.

Eight bit means that the
processor handles data in
batches or words of eight bits.
A bit, short for binary digit, is
the smallest unit of data. Eight
bits make a byte, four bits
make a nibble. A Kilobyte,
often abbreviated to K, is 1024
bytes. An Mbyte, or Megabyte
is colloquially a million bytes
but strictly speaking 1024 x
1024 or 1,048,576 bytes. A
Gigabyte is 1024 Mbytes, or a
heck of a lot of memory. MSX
computers are designed with a
maximum capacity of a Mega-
byte. All these odd numbers
have to do with the binary
number base at the heart of all
computing. Other number
bases to know about are octal
(base eight) and Hexadecimal
(base 16). This numbering

system goes 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8,9,A,B,C,D,E,F,10andsoon.
Numbers in this form are
prefixed by hex or hash. A
familiarity with these number
systems is a sure sign of
computeracy.

Computer memory is divided
into ROM and RAM. ROM is

Read Only Memory — instruc-
tions that are permanently
embedded in the microchip
and can't be changed. They
control the way the micro
works. RAM is Random Access
Memory. It is similar to ROM,
but its contents are lost when
the power is turned off. It is the
area occupied by programs.
Generally, the greater the RAM

the more the computer can
store. Most MSX machines
have 64K RAM .

MSX micros also have 16Kof
VRAM, Video Random Access
Memory. This is the area where
data for the video display is
stored. VDP is another useful
acronym, standing for Video
Display Processor. In MSX mic-
ros this is a Texas Instruments
9918Achip.

Another importantchip is the
General Instruments AY-3-
8910. This generates the
sound in an MSX computer.

When you start talking about
the workings of microp-
rocessors, you start into
another level of Jargon. For a
start there isthe clockspeed of
the processor, measured in
Megahertz or MHz. The MSX
processor runs at 3.6MHz. The
higher this number, the better.

silicon chip too. EPROM is a
term you may come across. It
stands for Erasable Programm-
able ROM. It is a chip on which I
the ROM can be erased by ultra j
violet light. A PROM can't have j
its memory erased. *

If RAM needs to be stored, a j
CMOS or Coated Metal Oxide
Semi-conductor can be used.
With a small power source, this
can store data or programmes
when the computer is turned
off. Bubble memory is another
non-volatile (i.e. power inde-
pendent) memory storage
method. It uses arrays of
bubblesina magnetic material
to store information.

LSI stands for Large Scale
Integration, and is the means
by which by upto 1000 electro-
nic components are reducediD
one chip. VLSI, Very Large
Scale Integration, isgettingup

A bus is the channel along
which data is transmitted.
Data travels from one address
to another, altering flags (pro-
cessor status indicators), reg-
isters and indices. Addresses
are arranged in pages of 1024
(binary at work) locations, so
you'll heartalkof pagezeroand
so on.

Eight bit processors handle
words of eight bits. More
advanced are sixteen bit pro-
cessors, handling data in 16
bit blocks. The Z8000 and Intel
8088 are 16 bit processors. 32
bit processors handle 32 bit
words. The Motorola 68000 is
a 32 bit chip.

There are other types of

to one million electronic com-
ponents on a single chip. ULSI
(Ultra LSI) is getting over a
million components on a chip.

If you really want to talk
futuristically, read up on
biochips — microchips of the
future to be carbon-based and
able to grow their own compo-
nents!

Getting back to the present,
some programming Jargon al-
ways comes in handy. Lan-
guages are the starting point
and BASIC is the language of
your MSX micro. BASIC stands
for Beginners’ All purpose
Symbolic Instruction Code. Itis
a high level language, mean-
ing it is quite close to English.

To operate a BASIC program,
the computer uses a BASIC
interpreter, converting BASIC
instructions to Machine Code.
Machine Code is the language
the microprocessor responds
to. It can be written with an
assembler, converting labels
and acronyms entered by the
programmer to the hexadecim-
al language of the computer.

BASIC is an interpreted lan-
guage, as is FORTRAN. Other
languages are compiled. The
computer starts with a few
primitive commands and the
programmer builds new com-
mands using the primitives. To
run a program, the computer
analyses the high level com-
mands, breaking them down
into primitives and executing
these, compiled languages in-
clude Forth, LISP and COBOL.

A program is a sequence of

terminals, printers, diskdrives
and so on. Booting up is
entering an operating system
into the computer.

That brings us rather neatly
to the world of peripherals. A
peripheral is anything you
attach to a computer. Some of
the terms are pretty self-ex-
planatory — joystick and prin-
ter for example — but there are
myriads of other terms to pick
up.

A monitor is the generic term
for the visual display unit or
VDU. CRT (Cathode Ray Tube)
is a synonomous term. A
monochrome monitor is a
black and white set. Green
screen monitors have a green
screen that is designed to
make them easier to look at for
long periods. The output to a
monitor is, in this country, a
composite video or PAL signal.

screen by which pointing at a
symbol being displayed (an
icon) initiates an action. A
mouse is a device that you
move about on the desk; as it
moves, the cursor moves on
the screen. A light pen is a type
of pen that ‘draws' on the
screen, and is an accessory
available for MSX micros. Then
there is the touch pad — touch
sections of it to do different
things. That's available for
MSX too.

Programs are stored on a
variety of media. For the home
user, cassette tape is the most
common. Greater storage
capacity is possible on disks
coated with a magnetized met-
al oxide. The disk (note the
spelling) formats vary, with
popular sizes being 8", 5Va",
3 V 2 " and 3". The first two are
known as floppy disks. Hard

SiHAKEJj

instructions to the computer. If
a program doesn't run correct-
ly, then it probably has a bug in
it. Debugging programs is what
keeps programmers up all
hours of the night. With two
days stubble, bags under the
eyes and a sallow complexion,
you can easily pass as a demon
programmer.

Programs are described as
portable if they can be used on
a range of different machines.
MSX programs are portable, as
are business programs written
I under an operating system
such as CP/M or UNIX.

An operating system is a
series of programs that oper-
ates a computer system of

The socket forthe cable may be
labelled RF, standingfor Radio
Frequency Other standards
include NTSC and Peritel.

RGB is the other video output
and needs a special socket. It
gives separate outputs of red,
green and blue signals, driving
the three cathode ray guns in
the colour monitor directly and
giving optimum image quality.

The keyboard is used to
enter text on the screen. A
standard keyboard is de-
scribed as a QWERTY type,
after the first six alphabet
keys. Alternative means to
communicate with the compu-
ter exist too. For instance, a
touch screen is a special

disks are non-bendable and
holdvastamountsofdata. Also
known as Winchesters, they
are for large business compu-
ters.

The cartridge is an alterna-
tive to disk storage, containing
a ROM chip with the program
written on it. Disk drives,
cartridges and so on are con-
nected to the computer via the
I/O (In/Out) port. That has 50
pins or contacts on MSX com-
puters.

The other major interfaces
are described as serial or
parallel. RS-232C and Centro-
nics are equivalent terms. Se-
rial means that data is sent in a
long stream, one bit after the

other. Parallel meansthatdata
is sent down eight parallel
wires, one byte at a time.

Printers are connected to
these ports. There are, of
course, several different
varieties of printer. Daisy
wheel printers have a spoked,
circular wheel with a character

‘There are many
books to educate you
and computer buffs are
usually only too willing
to enlighten you about
their hobby’

at end of each spoke. To
change to different types of
characters, you have to change
the daisywheel. Dot matrix
printers use a grid of tiny pins
to print any character at all.
These printers are faster but
the quality is not so high.
Thermal printers rely on heat to
transfer ink to the page, or
bring out characters on a sheet
of special paper.

The last major class of
peripheral is concerned with
computer communications.
The basic tool here is the
modem, short for modulator/
demodulator. This converts
(modulates) signals from the
computer to audible tones that
are sent down a telephone line
and converts these tones back
to binary data at the receiving
end. A Baud is the measure of
data transfer speed, a figure
like 1200/75 indicating that
signals are sent at 75 baud and
received at 1200 baud. 300
baud is another common
speed. A full duplex modem is
able to receive and send sig-
nals simultaneously, a half
duplex modem can do only one
or the other.

Those, then, arejustsomeof
the terms you'll come across
when you start talking compu-
ters. There are hundreds more
too, particularly when you start
investigating robotics. Artifi-
cial Intelligence (Al) and the
frontiers of developing tech-
nology. Still, there are many
books to educate you and you'll
find that computer buffs are
usually only too willing to
enlighten you about their hob-
by. Just remember one thing
though: it is easy enough to
bluffyourway in Computerese,
but blinding a novice with
science is a good way to ■■
put them off for ever.

Advertisers Index

A

Autovision 106

AF Smith & Sons Ltd 32

Alligata Software 6

Ampalsoft 81

Axis 89-93

B

B&B Radios. TV Ltd 106

Bradford Electricals 32

C

Conway Computer Services 104

City Music 4

Chartsearch 8

Chappell of Bond Street 25

Combined Independent Holdings 50

Carlsbro’ Sound 61

E

Eric Lee (Electrical) Ltd 105

F

Freedmans 81

Frasers 104

French 104

Frank Sissons 105

H

H Reynolds 81

Hi Soft 6

Howes of South borough 106

Harris & Nash 106

Hi Fi Studios 106

Hoopers. Sons 32

Hydes of Chertsey 81

J

James Duckworth 105

John Rees Hi Fi 32

Jatala Electronics 32

Jacksons 32

JS.H Russell 33

K

KumaComputers IBC

L

Logic Electrical Engineers 1 05

Lion House 106

M

Micro Link 10

Mitsubishi 54,55

Mitsubishi Dealers 1 04, 1 05, 1 06, 1 08

Medlicott Brothers 18

Music Village 63

P

PeterTyson 106

R

RS. J T elevisions 105

S

Sharon Music 60

Sanyo 46, 47

South Coast Cash Registers 1 0

Software City 4

Sony IFC

Stuart Westmoreland 32

Skelton Ltd 106

Somerton Video Services 106

D. Saunders 106

Sound Sense 105

Selsdon ParkTV& Video Centre 105

Sutcliffes 105

SP Electronics 33

T

T ollesbury T elevision Service 1 05

Toshiba OBC

Tavistock Hi Fi 25

Toshiba Dealers 18,32,33,50

U

Unicolour Ltd 105

V

Video Care 106

Vulcan Electronics 76

W

Ward & Williams 104

Woolfmans 33

Y

Yamaha 38,39

Yamaha Dealers 60-63

It’s easy to complain
about an advertisement.
Once you know how.

One of the ways we keep a check on the
advertising that appears in the press, on posters
and in the cinema is by responding to consumers’
complaints.

Any complaint sent to us is considered
carefully and, if there’s a case to answer, a full,
investigation is made.

If you think you’ve got good reason to
complain about an advertisement, send off for a
copy of our free leaflet.

It will tell you all you need to know to help us
process your complaint as quickly as possible.

The Advertising Standards Authority.

If an advertisement is wrong, weVe here to put it right.

ASA Ltd, Dept 1 Brook House,
Torrington Place, London WCIE 7HN

This space is donated in the interests of high standards of advertising.

-

General advice to readers
concerning advertisements

When replying to advertisements in this issue, you should note the following points:

1. Always clarify the exact nature of any guarantee being offered.

2. Never send cash — always a cheque, Postal or Money Order.

3. Insist on a written receipt.

4. Clearly state the equipment you seek, and detail any acceptable alternatives.

5. Request an immediate statement of how and when the goods are to be delivered
and whether the delivery will be split.

6. Check by telephone the latest prices and availability of goods you are ordering,

7. Cases of non-supply or wrong supply of goods Should initially be taken up directly
and as soon as possible with the supplier,

8. Because of fluctuations in prices and discounts, it is advisable to ensure that you
reply only to advertisements published in current issues.

Mail Order Protection Scheme
(Limited Liability)

If you order goods from mall order advertisers in this magazine and pay by post
In advance of delivery, this publication (What MSX?) will consider you for
compensation if the advertiser should become insolvent or bankrupt, provided:

1. You have not received the goods or had your money returned; and

2. You write to the publisher of this publication (What MSX?) explaining the
position not earlier than 28 days from the day you sent your order and not
later than 2 months from that day.

Please do not wait until the last moment to inform us. When you write, we will
tell you how to make your claim and what evidence of payment is required.

We guarantee to meet the claims from readers made in accordance with the
above procedure as soon as possible after the advertiser has been declared
bankrupt or insolvent up to a limit of £6,500 per annum for any one advertiser so
affected and up to £19,500 p.a. in respect of all insolvent advertisers. Claims may
be paid for higher amounts, or when the above procedure had not been complied
with, at the decision of the publication (What MSX?) but we do not guarantee to
do so in view of the need to set some limit to this commitment and to learn
quickly of readers* difficulties.

This guarantee covers only advance payments sent in direct response to an
advertisement in this magazine (not, for example, payments made in response
to catalogues etc, received as a result of answering such advertisements).
Classified advertisements are excluded.

Note: The sums referred to are annual amounts available for compensation
and they will be divided equally amongst all valid claims received.

TTHEXJNIQU

Buy an MSX computer and you'll invest in the future system of home
comput ing. MSX is the standard operating system that offers complete compat-
ibility between the best names in computer hardware and software. As technology
advances, MSX will be the computer link that keeps you right in touch.

As Sony continue to develop the latest in high
hnology products for your home, they have
)sen MSX as the operating system for all their
Tie computing products. They believe that any
iduct which relies on software (record players,
le recorders, video recorders and computers)
)uld, in the interests of both the consumer and
' manufacturer, utilise the best system as the
ustry standard.

IT BIT

HCnu

I #

€r-

&

4K MSX Computer with an
:lusive, built-in Personal Data
ik (firmware). This handy facility
ibles you to enter, store, recall
] up-date all kinds of personal
)rmation such as appointments,
iresses, telephone numbers, etc.
Operation is simple, with instruc-

IK4I nOtTER/PRIKTER

s Plotter/Printer produces red,
en, blue and black images and
iracters. Pen replacement is
yand it takes a wide choice of
iersizes.lncluding FREE
letings pack'
ware.

tions appearing on the screen

every step of fOQQ-dS

the process.

KVI430 14 MONITOR STYIE,
PUSH BUTTON CONTROL
TRINITRON COLOUR nLEVISION

with front moun-
ted RF terminal.

£2309*

TCM737 DATA RECORDER

A mains or battery operated
recorder ideal for use with your
home computer

£3&95

£ 249^9

JS5S JOYSTICK £19'^^

IS75RiM0TEC0MIIt0l
JOYSTICK Play fast-action games
from a distance without the
encumbrance of cables with this
quick-response remote control

joystick. £64 .95

HBD50 MICRO FLOPPY-DISK
UNIT stores up to 360K bytes of
information on a 3 W' disk. Easily
connected to the Hit Bit by using
one of the expansion ports.

£ 34&99

DISKDRIVE OPTION

Upgrade any MSX computer for business applications with
the addition of the Sony Disk Drive. Store up to 360k of
information on each 3,5 inch disk and realise the fantastic
potential of your MSX with this,
high speed data access
facility.

Data from the Personal Data
lank can be saved on any data
storage facility including the

UNIQUE HB155 RAM
CARTRIDGE, available for

£ 39-95

PRICES SHOWN INCLUDE VAT AND ARE CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. E & O.E

PRICES SHOWN INCLUDE VAT AND ARE CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. E. & O.E.

The MSX system has been universally adopted byli
major home electronics manufacturers. With the rapd
growing interest in the use of computers, each one

YStEW^

onbeatable

•,N

?A .■'.Vv

With direct involvement in the grov\/ing use of
computers in industry, Sanyo recognise the fantastic
potential of the computer in the home.

Drawing on their vast experience in the provision
of popular home electronic products, Sanyo have
selected the MSX system as the new standard and
immediately taken advantage of the superb graphics
capabilities with the introduction of their unique light
pen option.

fe: ;; • : •

iPMjAwv/ .A .
i.

P-ji/i)- ' ...

“‘>‘*4 neroiioi;

- W

This sophisticated piece of equip-
ment offers all the advantages of
64K MSX computing. (Complete
with 4 programme starter

pack.) £299 .99

Plus a unique optional feature -

MLTOOI LIGHT PEN This provides
you with unlimited flair and flex-
ibility in colour graphics design. This
feature comes complete with a
software package containing some
intriguing graphic ^OA QQ
facilities. liO%l

CTP4l32irTEinEXT
OLOUR TV MONITOR

dvanced features include: black
matrix 90° deflection tube, 30-
function I.R. Remote Control, 8
programme tuning, AV terminals
and Automatic
Fine Tuning.

DR202

MTARICOmat

£34999

Top of the range machine offenng
a host of high technology

features. £44^

SnOM OFFER!

X

N.

mm

S:m:

*' ''■'\ ***

SLIM 11 DATA RECORDER
MJY 002 JOYSTICK

Plus special software pack.
Total value over:

N

£5000

\

Specifically designed
for use with personal computers,
with phase shift switch, speaker

monitor and £34 .99

MU KCORDIR An AC only
recorder styled for computer use
with all controls conveniently placed
on top of the machine
for ease of use.

AC/DC operation.

JOYSIKK HUY 002 £12“

When you purchase the
Sanyo MPC 100 Computei:

COR rPTAII R np vnilR NFARF.RT RTnnKI.RTR AMR RTHFR

pRnniinT.R RFFFminwiNR

pises the future potential of computer usage at home,
both entertainment and practical purposes.

That’s why household names famous for superb

quality and value have selected MSX as the one system to
become the computer industry standard. Axis bring you
the best names in MSX at the best possible prices.

L

Dig

©

TOSHIBA

Toshiba were the first to
introduce MSX into the UK

market. With their years of
experience and their firm
commitment to the home electronics industry, Toshiba
recognise the potential of the computer in the home and
have selected MSX as the realistic standard to work to.

;

• ^

‘i

\

X

X

HX-MOO
JOVSIKK

£ 129 *

140E MONITOR STYLE COLOUR niiVISION

The perfect partner for the HXIO, providing

excellent picture and sound £189 .95

m VALUE TOSHIBA HXIO

lering superb facilities and audio connectors, plus ports for

wlstanding value for the first time
iser or enthusiast. 64K Ram, 16
olour graphics, RF, video and

printer, disk drive and data recorder.

£279 .95 (For money saving

HX-P550 HIGH SPEED DOT

PRIKIER Printing
at 105 characters per
second, for fast copies of all
information, including graphics
symbols. Ideal for word processing

£ 349.00

offer see panel)

B-IgTO PLOTTER

nilER Easily connected
Dthe HXIO through the
ri'nter interface. This
(inter features image
nd character plotting in 4
olours- red, green, blue and
lack- making it ideal for colourful graphs,
ieand bar charts. Plotting speed 00

;285 steps per second.

off the normal Axis price of the Toshiba HXIO Computer

PLUS 3 year guarantee
PLUS 3 Free software titles.

ALL FOR

nGETTO ASK YOUR DEALER FOR DETAILS OF CREDIT FACILITIES, EXTENDED GUARANTEES. ETC. AVAILABLE ON CERTAIN ITEMS.

PRICES SHOWN INCLUDE VAT AND ARE CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. E. & O.E

‘Offers available only while stocks
last ** AxisSa ving refers to previous
advertised prices or recommended retail prices.

Ittli urMiL^ut

AXIS COMPLETE

SANYO MPC 100 Computer
SANYO SLIM 10 Data Recorder
SANYO MJY 002 Joystick

SAMSUNG BT309K B/WTV Moi

£35

worth

of software

amr,

Monna Mxa prke £425.^

The MSX System allows the experienced !
computer user to select, from a wide range of '
peripherals, all they need for any particular

JVC invented the ‘VHS’ format for
video recorders, so are well aware
of the advantages of standardization.

They forecast MSX as the worldwide home computing
standard and they see the video compatibility of their
MSX as a key development path into the future.

THE SPECTACULAR HC-7GB

JVC

The HC7GBpersonal computer
from JVC is a new MSX machine
designed for total compatibility be-
tween other MSX machines and all
MSX software. A highly advanced
64K machine, the HC-7GB has
three display modes offering RF,
composite video and RGB outputs.

The HC-7GB MSX personal computer
from JVC is the final word in home
entertainment.

£27900

NO 615
JOYSTICK

£12-95

HC-RW5 DATA RECORDER The

stylish designed HC-R105 data re-
corder is an example of a machine
produced to offer superb user

JVC SOmVARE

\NHEH YOU PUI
THEAMAZINGm

COM

convenience,
exceptional performance
parameters and reliable datatrai
The HC-R105 is a high speed m<
giving very short ^QQ,
access times to data. ZiO%l'

7255 GB 14" COLOUR TV
MONITOR A fully remote con-
trolled TV, ideal as a computer

monitor or alone fOCQ 00
as a second TV.

ymxii FOR meo ofTRusmrr

Add your own tides to your video films with the Character
Generator included in the JVC free software pack.

FOR DETAILS OF YOUR NEAREST STOCKISTS AND OTHER MSX PRODUCTS, SEE PREVIOUS AND FACING PAGES

Dlication. But, in order to help those starting a new needed to start in computing.

tern, Axis have put together a special range of These “Complete Package Deals” are available

Dmplete Package Deals” that contain everything to you at exclusive and unbeatable Axis prices.

AXIS BRINGS A GREAT DEAL TO THE INDEPENDENT DEALER

Axis is an organisation that brings you the best deals through
/our existing High Street dealer.

With an established reputation for personal service and care for
tier customers, Axis recommended dealers.now bring you deals
tiat no multiple can match.

Axis provide the resources to research and select high quality
products and to make them available through the independent at
unbeatable prices.

For “Exclusive Axis Deals” and the "Greatest Ever Care and
Service”, your nearest Axis recommended dealer is:

AVON

RBTOL CJ. FREEMAN & CO. LTD.
f.HighSt.. Portishead

Tel: 0272 848180

BEDFORDSIHRE

EDFORD TAVISTOCK HI FI LTD
l.The Broadway Tet 0234 56323

CREWE ROY TOWNSEND SOUND &
VIDEO 2 4 Victoria Street

Tel; 0270 213276

CtlVnAND ~

STOCKTON N TEES MCKENNA &
BROWN LTD. 81. HighStreet

Tel: 0642 679995

LOUGH C F LAKE LTD

7Stoke Road Tel: 0753 38287

EAOING SEWARDS

DERBY STUART WESTMORELAND
67, St Peter s Street Tel: 0332 367546

SOUTH BENFLEET HODGES &
JOHNSON LTD. 285, High Road

Tel: 037 45 58725

WESTCUFF HODGES & JOHNSON
LTD. 9^98. Hamlet Court Road

Tel: 0702 334488

CHELMSFORD RUSH HI FI

5-6, Comhill Tel: 0245 57593

CmiNPlAW NECiON ~

ABERDEEN A&G KNIGHT
108, Rosemount Place

Tel: 0224 630526

Gtaautiomm

SHEERNESS BRIHAIN & HOBBS. LTD.
22-24, High Street Tel: 0795 665551

LANCASHIRE

PRESTON GOODRIGHTS LTD.

1 . Friargate TeF. 0772 57528

BARNOLDSWICK HARRY GARLICK
(TV CENTRE) 1, Church Street

Tel 0282 813309
BURNLEY HARRY GARUCK
(TV CENTRE) 10. Howe Whlk

Tet: 0282 371 18

NOfOHERN IRELAND

SURREY

NORTH BELPAST

DORKING DORKING AUDIO

THE GRAMOPHONE SHOP

SYSTEMS 23. South street

16 Donegall Square N Tel:0232 240046

Tel; 0306 882897

NOfON VTWKSHIRE

W. GLAMORGAN

YORK CUSSINS & LIGHT LTD.

Kings Square Tel: 0904 55666

NOTTINGHAM E.N.L AUDIOVISUAL
1 16 H8. AHreton RoadTel: 0602 78401 5

»131 Friar Street Tet 0734 599527 DARUNGTON MCKENNA& BROWN
MCKNELL SEWARDS LTD. 102, Bondgate Tel: 0325 59744

l.The Broadway Tel; 0344 52255 EAST W S SE X

INOSOR SONICS HI-FI LTD. EASTBOURNE CLEARVIEW RENTAL

BGroveRoad Tel: 07535 60716 215, Seaside Tel 0323 21646 SUTTON LANDAU RADIO LTD.

CROYDON J & T ROBINSON LTD.

20, Norfolk House, George Street

Tet 01-681 2800

195 197 High Street Tel 01 643 0027

NESHAM DL CHIHENDENLTD
)61,The Broadway Tet 0494 784441
BHWVCOMBE C F. LAKE LTD.

17/118 Oxford Road Tel: 0494 28605

WmiWICH NORDISLTD
), Chester Way Tet 0606 3691

SEAFORO CLEARVIEW RENTAL
34 40. High Street Tet, 0323 898989

SEWARDS

GRAYS A.C.L RADIO SERVICES LTD.

1, Northman Tet 0375 4666 Tel 0256 465665

ILFORD D. WOOLFMAN LTD. KENT

76, Ilford Lane Tet 01-478 1307 GRAVESEND BENNETT & BROWN

WIGSTON A G KEMBLE LTD.

63, Leicester Road Tet 0533 881557

LOUGHBOROUGH

STUART WESTMORELAND

33. Cattlemarket Tet 0509 230465

GRANTHAM

STUART WESTMORELAND

49. High Street Tet 0476 78108

NORWICH HUGHESTV& AUDIO
17-21, White Lion Street Tel: 0603 60935

STOKE-ON-TRENT ROY TOWNSEND
SOUND & VIDEO 10. Trinity Street.
Hanley Tet 0782 2891 14

STHATWCiyPC RECION ~

SALTCOATS HARRIS OF SALTCOATS
104-106, Dockhead Street

Tel: 0294 64330

svimnsea

RADIO SUPPLIES SWANSEA LTD.

80 Gower Road, Sketty
Tel: 0792 204140

WEST YWagWIRE ~

HOUMFIRTH FRANK PLAn
ELECTRICAL Victoria House,

24, Victoria Street T et 0484 682036

HAUFAX FRED MOORE LTD.

15 17 Southgate Tet 0422 67763

BINGLEY SPENCER & HILL LTD
133, Maui Street

Tet 0274 565161

181-183, Windmill StreetTet 0474 52919

emand for some MSX products means supplies are limited. Please phone your dealer to check that he has stock avaUable.
kite: For your local stockists of particular products in this advertisement,

King Teledota 01-200 0200

ORCn TO ASK YOUR DEALER FOR DETAILS OF CREDIT FACILITIES. EXTENDED GUARANTEES, ETC. AVAILABLE ON CERTAIN ITEMS

IPSWICH HUGHES IV & AUDIO
42, Buttermarket T et 0473 215093

LOWESTOFT HUGHES TV & AUDIO
62, London Road North Tel: 0502 8561 1

Though there are
hundreds of computer
games available,
many of them fell
Into definite groups.
Here’s a guide to
game types.

T ake a garage, two compu-
ter enthusiasts, inspira-
tion, some free time and a
rather primitive computerised
Ping Pong game, mix them
together and you’ve got your-
seif the start of a massive
computer game industry, pro-
ducing hundreds of computer
games on every imaginabie
topic under the sun!

The computer game craze a 1 1
started when two men, Steve
Wozniak and fellow computer
hobbyist Steve Job spent their
free time building the ping
pong game in a garage. Think-
ing that electronic ping pong
could have commercial possi-
bilities, they installed it in the
local cafe to test public reac-
tion.

Within hours the cafe owner
had called to saythattherewas
something wrong. So, in tre-
pidation, they went back to
investigate the problem and
found that the coin box was
completely jammed up with

coins! The game had proved an
overwhelming success.

Nowadays it is difficult to
imagine anyone actually en-
joying hitting little white balls
back and forthwith rectangular
bats, butf ora public bored with
table football and pinball, the
computerised arcade game
idea caught on quickly.

Soon games like Breakout
appeared — another ball
game, that was slightly more
sophisticated than ping pong.
Similar in principle to squash,
one or two players had to hit
balls against a wall of coloured
bricks. The ball bounced back
at unpredicatable angles, in-
troducing an element of sur-
prise and skill into the games.

Following closely on Break-
out’s trail came the Space
Invader-type games. Arcade
game popularity really got off
the ground with these games.
Addicts squandered pocket
money, pay packets, life sav-
ings, marriages . . . anything
and everything just to keep up
the extermination of invading
alien hordes. Then the rest
arrived: Galaxians, Pole Posi-
tion, Scrambler, Frogger,
Donkey Kong — to name but a
few. They poured into the
amusement arcades, pubs,
restaurants . . . everywhere!
Gone were the penny arcade
games. Amusement halls were
never going to be the same
after the microchip.

As arcade games were be-
coming more diverse and
sophisticated, so the home
computer industry was also
flourishing. One of the main
reasonsfor investing in a home
computer was so that penni-
less arcade fanatics could sit
in front of their televisions a nd
play games to their hearts
content, without needing to
constantly pour silver coins
down a coin slot!

Of course a lot of people
realised the potential of the
home computer, quickly
formed software companies
and produced vast numbers of
computer games. Most are
versions or copies of original
arcade games, but as prog-
ramming techniques improved
and new ideas were added to
the old, the number of game
categories as well as game
quality increased.

No longer do we j ust have the
arcade-type games. Games
can be categorised as adven-
tures, strategies, traditional,
educational, sports or simula-
tions. The ideas used in these
games often overlap, produc-
ing hybrids such as arcade/

strategies, arcade/adventures
and even semi -educational/
traditional games!

Choosing a game depends
very much on personal prefer-
ence. In the What MSX? oif\ce
some of us prefer to spend our
days mindlessly zapping alien
Klingons in games like Bat-
tleship Clapton II whereas
others prefer the gentler
attraction of guiding a happy
little boy over lily ponds and
water fountains as in Adven-
ture Playground.

It is all too easy for the
computer novice eager to play
games on a newly unwrapped
MSX computer to dash out and
buy pounds worth of software
which turns out to be pretty
awf u I .

By knowing the game groups
you can more easily decide
which games are worth buying.

The vast majority of games
can be put into the arcade
category. Popular amusement
arcade games are the inspira-
tion for many of them. You
control the movement of an
object or character, be it pen-
guin, pacman, mutated zom-
bie or flea, using either the

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keyboard or a joystick.

Mindless massacres and
evasive tactics are often in-
volved in these games — not
always — Just mostof the time!
Speedy reflexes, impeccable
hand to eye control, nerves of
steel, long hours of practice
and a great deal of patience
are the qualities needed to
master these games.

Within the Arcade category
are many sub groupings. Some
are recognised by experts as
arcade classics and conse-
quently imitated by many.

Arcade/adventures games
are a hybri d . They are arcade i n
the sense that a character has
to move around different loca-
tions dodging objects such as
flying beds and an adventure
because the character has a
task or questto complete. Pure
arcade games never end
whereas arcade/adventures do
have a definite goal.

Manic Miner, Jet Set Willy
and Pitfall II are typical of this
group, although with more
arcade action than adventure.

Asteroids was one of the
earlier space games. The play-
er has control of a manoeuvr-

able space ship which dashes
all over the screen zapping or
avoiding asteroids.

Manygamesusethisidea. In
Time Pilot the aircraft annihi-
lates everything in the sky, and
in Battleship Clapton II the
player manipulates a
spacecraft through space
shooting multicoloured alien
beings.

In Centipede games the
player has to whizz round a
maze scenario chasing cen-
tipede snakes. Hitting the

snakes in the middle causes
them to split in two — doubly
dangerous. Life is made more
difficultby monsters in pursuit.
Hyper Viper is a game of this
type.

Donkey Kong is a very well
known arcade game and has
been the inspiration for many
platform games. The screen is
divided by platform, liberally
sprinkled with obstacles and
connected by ladders. Descen-
dentsof the game feature lifts,
ropes, holes in the floor. A fair
damsel can only be rescued by
climbing to the top and defeat-
ing an aggressive gorilla.

Hundreds of p latform games
exist — Nug-it, Chuckie Egg
and in games like Jet Set Willy
the game extends into several
screens and becomes more
complicated.

If guiding frogs safely over
busy roads and crocodile-in-
fested rivers is your idea of f u n ,
then a frogger game is the one
for you. Good timing and snap-
py thinking are needed. The
road and river both run across
the screen and your frog has to
cross them by going from the
bottom of the screen to the top.

Beamrider and Waffle are
typical grid games. In Beam-
rider the player is caught up on
a neon blue grid in the firing
line of enemy projectiles and
can either dodge or shoot
back. An element of strategy is
involved.

Star Trek, perhaps the most
famous example of. a grid
game, has the player moving
around from space sector to
space sector destroying Kling-
ons and other space creatures.
Thegalaxyisagreatdeal larger
than one screen, so to move
around the player has to give
grid references as well as warp
factors and directions.

Anyone familiar with the

HUNCHBACK-TYPE

arcades will remember Hun-
chback. The ugly hunchback
crosses several screens Jump-
ing over spears, gaps in the
floor and other assorted nas-
ties. After about 20 different
screens, the Hunchback res-
cues the princess. Punchy is
similar except that a police-
man is trying to rescue Judy.

‘Pure arcade games
never end whereas
arcade/adventures do
have a definite goal to
achieve’

The Hunchback idea isfound
in many arcade games. The
characters or objects move
either up or across the screen,
but have no offensive poten-
tial. Avoidance of things is the
key to success.

Other games using the Hun-
chback idea are Antarctic
Adventure where the penguin
has to move up the screen
Jumping ice crevasses or
avoiding walruses, and Comic
Bakery, where the baker has to
run back and forth kicking furry
racoons and switching the
bread conveyor belt on.

Any game with a variety of
screens, each with a set task,
is a multi-screen game. Blag-
ger. Manic Miner and Jet Set
Willy are good multi-screen
games.

Pacman, the maze game is
the precursor of all maze
games. The player steers
round a maze gobbling dots
and power pills while evading
monsters.

Examples of the maze game
include Pyramid Warp, Oh
Mummy, Packie, Sparkie and

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Binary Land. Different charac-
ters and themes are used in
each game, but the same sort
of maze scenario is involved.

Scramble is a firm favourite
with arcade fans who thrive on
excitement, fast movements
and hit or die firing skills. A
space ship is piloted over
mountains, valleys and
through caverns avoiding mis-
siles, meteors and other
assorted killers. Super Cobra
and Star Avenger are excel lent
examples of this type of arcade
game.

River Raid is a sort of vertical
Scramble with the jet fighter
travelling up the screen.

Space Invaders is so famous
it hardly needsan explanation!
The player moves a rocket
launcher from left to right
blasting rows of aliens as they
move down from the top of the
screen. Maxima is a typical
Space Invader game.

Adapted versions include
Galaxians where the aliens
swerve and wheel as they
descend and Polar Star where
the space ship can move up the
screen to attack oncoming
ships.

A spatial game is one in
which the player has a fairly
wideopenspace to manipulate
the character or object around
in.

Spatialgames includeShark
Hunter which involves an eski-
mo jumping about on ice floes
protecting his fish nets from
the sharks and Buzz Off which
hasa blue insect flying all over
the screen scoffing colourful
fruit which instantly turns into
fatal cobwebs.

In a Q-Bert game, the player
is presented with a 3-D pyra-
mid of blocks which change
colour when touched. Coils
and vindictive monsters are in

PUB GAME

‘The pace of an

adventur e game is
much slower, but good
ones can and do occupy
addicts for hours'

hot pursuit.

Hotshoe is a Q-Bert game
except that the blocks are
atomic piles radiating nuclear
energy. Jumping on the piles
reduces this energy, although
Ron Robot and mutant atoms
do their best to sabotage the
players efforts.

Ever considered yourself to
be an inventive, imaginative,
intelligent bold explorer, but
couldn’t be bothered to go out
the front door and prove it?
Then adventure games could
be the answer to these burning
exploratory ambitions — you
don’t even have to move from
the armchair!

Adventure games invariably
involve a quest — finding the
golden ring, rescuing the trea-
sure from the Dragon’s lair or
liberating the magic sword.

The player is presented with a
description of the location he
is in — where it is, what’s in it,
either in text or graphic format.
Text/graphic adventures have
both.

In any situation the player
has to type into the computer
keyboard what he wants to do.
For instance ‘go West’, 'take
sword' or perhaps ‘kill dwarf.
Whatever action the player
takes usually changes the
location or situation.

Imagination, lateral think-
ing and luck are the essential
qualities needed because the
situations the playerfinds him-
self in are often obscure.

Problems

In the advanced adventures,
game characters each have
their own personalities and
react differently according to
the circumstances you find
them in.

It should also be possible to
solve the problems you en-
counter in several different
ways.

The pace of an adventure
game is much slower than that

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of the arcades, but good ones
can and do occupy addicts for
hours.

Level Nine, specialists in
sophisticated, exciting brain
taxing Adventures, have con-
verted a number of their text-
only adventures including Col-
ossal Adventure, Adventure
Quest, Lords of Time, Dungeon
Adventure and Snowball to the
MSX. The Hobbit is another
classic for MSX.

A strategy game needs
neither rapid reflexes nor im-
agination. An ability to think
logically is the essential re-
quirement. In other words the
player needs brains!

In a typical strategy game
the player assumes a role, for
instance a political candidate,
an army commander or ruler of
the country and is presented
with information in the form of

‘A strategy game needs
neither rapid reflexes
nor Imagination. An
ability to think logically
Is essential’

charts, maps, diagrams and
statistics. From these, the
player assesses the position
he finds himself in and makes
decisions on what to do next.
Special Operations and Hold-
fast are typical strategy
games.

Cubit, a sort of three-dimen-
sional noughts and crosses
and Supermind, a version of
Mastermind are less compli-
cated types of strategy games.

Hoyle’s Rules of Games, an
authority on games, lists all the
games falling into the tradi-
tional category. All the board,
card and pub games fall under
this category and the player

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can usually play either against
the computer or against
another opponent.

With board games such as
Chess, Backgammon and
Othello, the board appears on
screen and the player can
either use the keyboard or a
joystick to make moves. The
computer takes its turn and
very rarely makes mistakes!

Computerised card games

‘Sporting enthusiasts
who prefer to enjoy
sport on the TV will
welcome the sport
simulation games’

include Cribbage and Bridge.
In these the player’s hand is
displayed on screen.

Pub games include all the
games traditionally associ-
ated with pubs. Computer Bil-
liards and Hustler are both
computerised versions of Poo I .
Pinball games such as Roller-
ball and Pinball are available
for the MSX. With Rol lerba 1 1 the
screen scrolls downwards as
the ba 1 1 passes down the board
and the flippers are controlled
with two of the keys. Flashing
lights and suitable sounds
accompany the ball action.

Making a subject fun is the
best way to teach children and
much of the educational soft-
ware, especially the programs
for the younger age range use
games to teach subjects like
spelling and mathematics.

Monkey Academy is an ex-
cellent example. A series of
platforms hanging with fruit
and blinds concealing num-
bers confronts the player. The
level of difficulty dictates how
complicated the sum is. To

answer it the player guides the
monkey up and down the
platforms avoiding the purple
crab and pulling blinds down
until the answer is reached.

Much of the educational
software uses arcade game
ideas. Examples include Word
Wobbler, 3D Hypermaths,
Number Painterand BMXNum-
ber Jump.

Sporting enthusiasts who
prefer to enjoy sport on the TV
rather than — perish the
thought — going out and
actually playing themselves,
will welcome the sports
simulation games. Athletic
events such as cricket, golf,
football can be played with
minimal effort. In fact twid-
dlingthejoystickortappingthe
keys are the only strenuous
activities involved.

Ping pong was the very first
sports simulation game, but
graphic and sound technology
has moved fast and the games
have become increasingly
sophisticated and much more
fun to play.

Hyper Olympics features
four athletic events, the 100
and 400 metres, long jump and

the hammer throwing. Hyper
Sports involves trampolines,
the horse, gymnastics, diving
and the horizontal bars. A
joystick can be used, but
waggling the stick from side to
side in the 400 metres can be
extremely tiring. To make the
games more realistic you have
to qualify in one event before
you are allowed to proceed to
the next one.

‘As programmers and
software companies
become more
experienced, new
games appear’

There are also golf simula-
tion games — Golf and 3D
Golf Simulation. Tennis is an
excellent version of computer
tennis. Football and cricket
games are available for other
computers so it will only be a
matter of time before they
appear as MSX versions.

Flying and landing a huge
Jumbo jet safely on the ground
must be a thrilling experience

which few people ever experi-
ence, but with the flight simu-
lator programs, the complica-
tions and techniques of the
process are emulated.

Using an instrument panel
filled with a 1 1 the gadgets that a
professional pilot would use,
the player has to fly an imagin-
ary plane and touch down on a
runway — without ploughing
three miles into the ground as
we usually find ourselves
doing!

Aircraft speed, altitude, flap
extensions, crosswinds, wind
velocity, air temperature all
have to be taken into consid-
eration. Various difficulty
levels are usually provided.
737 Flight Simulation is an
excellent example of a Flight
Simulator.

As programmers and soft-
ware companies become more
experienced, new game types
constantly appear on the mar-
ket. A successful, totally ori-
ginal game is a rare bird and
indeed is guaranteed to spawn
a host of imitators. Still the
imagination of games desig-
ners seems far from exhausted
yet.

EDUCATIONAL

MULTI-SCREEN

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Verdict

MSX software Is increasing
in quantity and quality every
month. Many games are being
converted from other compu-
ters, so there should be some-
thing for every taste. Whatever
type of game you prefer, there
will be a wide choice. Finding
out game preferences will take
time, but It is worth doing if you
are to avoid wasting money on
games you won’t like. Check
out the software guide at the
back of this issue to see
what’s available. We’ve sure
come a long way from mm
ping pong. H

These are the names,
addresses and
telephone numbers of
the major MSX
software suppliers.

A&FSoftware

Units

Canalside Industrial Estate
Woodbine Street East
Rochdale
Lancs

(0706) 341111

Activision (UK) Inc.

15 Harley House
MaryleboneRd
London NWl
01-4867588^

Alllgata Software Ltd

1 Orange Street

Sheffield

S14DW

1(0742)755796

Ampalsoft

PO Box 19
Knutsford
Cheshire
WA160HE
(0565)893563

Anirog Software

29WestHill
Dartford
Kent

(0322) 92513

Artic Computing Ltd

Main Street
Brandesburton
Driffield

Nth. Humberside
Y0258RL
X0401) 435533

ASK

London House

68 Upper Richmond Road

London

SW15 2RP

01-8746046

Bubble Bus Software

87 High Street
Tonbridge
Kent
TN91RX
(0732) 355962

CDS

Silver House
Silver Street
Doncaster
DNllHL
(0302)21134

Computer Mates Ltd

PO Box 2
Houghton Down
Stockbridge
Hampshire S020 OLE
(0264) 810824

CRL

9 Kings Yard
Carpenter’s Rd
London
E152HD
01-5332918

Electric Software Ltd

8 Green Street
Willingham
Cambridge
CB45JA
(0954) 81991

HIsoft

180 High Street North

Dunstable

Beds

LU61AT

(0582)696421

Intelligent Software Ltd

37 Bedford Square
London WCl 3HW
01-636 7017

Kemp Ltd

43MuswellHill

London

N103PN

01-444-5499

Knights TV and Computers

108 Rose Mount Place
Aberdeen
AB24YW
(0224)630526

KonamI Ltd

269 Field End Road
Eastcote
Middlesex
HA4 9LS
01-4292446

Kuma Computers Ltd

Unit 12

Horseshoe Park
Horseshoe Road
Pangbourne
Berks RG8 7J W
(07357)4335

Level 9 Computing

229 Hughenden Road
High Wycombe
Bucks
HP13 5PG
(0494) 26871

Uamasoft Ltd

49 Mount Pleasant

Tadley

Hants

RG26 6BN

(07356) 4478

Longman Software

Longman House

BurntMill

Harlow

Essex

CM202JE

(0279)26721

Mastertronic Ltd

Park Lome
111 Park Road
London NW8 TJL
01-935 4944

M.C. Lothlorlen

56A Park Lane
Poynton
Cheshire
SK12 lAE
(0625) 876642

Megacycal Software Ltd

PO Box 6
Birkenhead
Merseyside
L43 6XH
051-652 3139

Micro Aid

25 Fore Street
Praze
Camborne
Cornwall
TR14 OJX
(0209) 831274

MIcrocom

67 Gestridge Road
Kingsteignton
Devon
TQ12 3HJ
(0626) 60473

MIrrorsoft

Mirror Group Newspapers
Holborn Circus
London
EClP IDQ
01-822 3971

MPL

Maple Walk
Bexhill
East Sussex
TN394SN
(04243) 5840

Mr Micro Ltd

69 Partington Lane
Swinton
Manchester
M27 3AL
061-728 2282

Music Sales

78-79 Newman St
London WIT SLA
01-636 7777

Ocean Software

Ocean House
6 Central Street
Manchester
M25 5NS
(061) 832 6633

The Office Junior

Marketplace

Oundle

Nr Peterborough
PE84BA
(0832) 72127

Orpheus Software

The Smithy
Unitl

Church Farm
Hatley St George
Nr Sandy
Beds

SG19 3HP
(0767) 51481

Panasonic (UK) Ltd

300-318 Bath Road

Slough

Berks

SL16JB

(75) 34522

PSS

452 Stoney Stanton Road
Coventry
CV6 5DG
(0203)667556

Quicksllva Ltd

Palmerston Park House
13 Palmerston Road
Southampton SOI ILL
(0703) 20169

Software Projects

Bearbrand Complex

Allerton Road

Woolton

Liverpool

L25 7FS

(051) 428 9393

Sony UK Ltd

Sony House
South Street
Staines
Middlesex
TW18 4PF
(81) 61688

Spectravideo Ltd

165 Garth Road

Morden

Surrey

SM44LH

01-3300101

Tasman Software Ltd

Springfield House
HydeTerrace
Leeds
LS2 9LN
(0532) 438301

Terminal Software

Derby House
Derby Street
Bury

BL90NW

061-7614321

Toshiba (UK) Ltd

Toshiba House

FrimleyRoad

Frimley

Camberley

Surrey

GU165JJ

(0276)62222

Virgin Games

2-4 Vernon Yard
Portobello Road
London Wll 2DX
01-727 8070

Visions

IFelgateMews
Stud I and Street
London
W69JT
01-7487478

Over the next 16 pages you’ll

find all the Information you
need to build up a complete

MSX system

Confused by computers? Puz-
zled by peripherals? Stonkered
by software? Here are the
answers — or at least the
information that will get you on
the right track. This is as
comprehensive a guide as has
been humanly possibleto com-
pile to the MSX computer
scene. It details machines,
peripherals and programs that
are, oraredueto be, available.

Itisdivided into six sections,
over the next 16 pages.

We kick off with a diagrama-
tic overview of an MSX compu-
ter system — what plugs into
what, what different things to
do and so forth. Be warned,
there's no such thing as a
complete system. You’ll be
bankrupt before you get any-
where near buying all the
things that you can use with
your MSX computer.

The first main listing is a
comparative chart of all cur-
rently available MSX compu-
ters. Many are reviewed in this
issue of What MSX? The com-
parative table shows how they
stack up against each other for
price, features and so forth.
You should be able to compile
a shortlist if you haven't
already settled on a favourite
machine.

The next listing is of MSX
peripherals. These are the
pieces designed exclusively
for MSX computers. You’ll find
details of disk drives, light
pens, speech synthesisers,
touch pads, communications
hardware and much more.

If you're a games player, you
mustconsuitthe buyers’ guide
to joysticks. Here you’ll find
details of all kinds of Joysticks,
including paddles, remote
control units, trackballs and so
forth. The aliens will never
stand a chance!

To improve the quality of
your image, consuitthe buyers’

guide to monitors. We've the
facts on just about every moni-
tor costing less than £500. If
you think that your games look
good on the domestic televi-
sion, wait till you see what a
monitor does to them. We’ve
got a full explanation of the
terms you’ll meet in the moni-
tor world too.

For hard print, the buyers’
guide to printers has all the
hard facts. Over 100 printers
are listed, costing up to
£1,000 or so. Some are super
fast, others offersuperquality.
Some do colour, some run
silently. Some can be used as
an electronic typewriter,
others as viewdata terminals.
There’s a tremendous variety
of pri nters to choose from , and
this guide should put you on
the right path.

The last section of the
Buyers’ Guide lists MSX soft
ware. Some of it may not be
available immediately, but is
promised for the near future.

As there are so many soft-
ware packages available,
we’ve grouped them into cate-
gories. These are games,
education, business, utility
and other. We’ve listed the
supplier of each package, and
you’ll find addresses and
'phone numbers of suppliers.
Some of the software may not
be available through your local
MSX dealer, so you may have to
order direct.

Prices throughout are
approximate only. Peripherals
may be discounted, particular-
ly if they are popular and widely
available. Computer prices
can vary from shop to shop too.
Check out advertised prices.

With the huge amount of
MSX hard and software arriving
on the market, we’re sure you’ll
find just what you are looking
for to make your MSX system
do what you want it to.

t.

JOYSTICK

The most popular games controller,
the joystick has one of two fire
buttons and relays the player's move-
ments to the computer. Some joy-
sticks are available with continuous
fire buttons for the cheats among us!

LANGUAGES

Computer languages are coded in-
structions. There is a wide variety of
languages available each with its
own application. MSX BASIC spoken
here!

High level languages are computer
languages easily understood by you
and I but not by the processor.

Low-level languages (like Machine
Code) are much closer to the lan-
guage of the processor but are
difficult to read by humans and hard
to edit. The benefit of programming
in a low level language is the higher
speed at which it runs.

i

BASIC. This stands for Beginners'
All-purpose Symbolic Instruction
Code. Though developed as an intro-
ductory language it has now become
one of the most widely used lan-
guages for home computing. Various
dialects exist.

MSX BASIC. This is the extended
version of BASIC written by the
Microsoft Corporation as used on all
MSX computers.

ASSEMBLERS etc

Assembler. Correctly called assem-
bly language, this exists between the
high level programming language
and Machine Code which it gener-
ates. Assembler carries over some of
the benefits of a high level language
(labels etc) yet is fast to run.

Compiler. This is a program which
translates your program into
Machine Code — permanently. Com-
piled programs are quick to run but
very hard to edit.

Interpreter. Unlike the compiler, an
interpreter translates your program
into Machine Code one line ata time.
This makes programs slower to run
but relatively easy to edit.

MOUSE

An alternative way to control the
screen cursor. Works rather like a
'rolling joystick', the mouse's move-
ments over your desk top are mimick-
ed by the cursor on the screen. Good
for building graphics.

UGHTPEN

The I ight sensitive element at the end
of a light pen sends signals to the
computer via a modulator which
interfaces through the cartridge port.
Lightpenscan be usedf oreducation-
al games, graphics or any program
which involves selecting from lists
(menu driven).

GRAPHICS TABLH

The computer equivalent of the
Etch-A-Sketch! The stylus is used to
draw lines on the tablet proper while
the palette is used to choose colours
and hatch patterns for outline filling.

MUSIC KEYBOARD

To enable computers to have quick
access to music without the prob-
lems of coding or notation soine
manufacturers are producing IVi or
4 octave keyboards which will plugin
to interface cards for the MSX
expansion bus.

INTERFACES

The SOpin input/output socket (ex-
pansion bus) on the MSX computer
offers expansion possibilities
through the use of dedicated plug-in
modules. Called 'cards' these cir-
cuits can either expand the operation

of the micro (an 80 column card for
word processing or a data cartridge)
or enable the computer to be inter-
faced with specialised input devices,
light pens, music keyboards etc.

CPU

The Central Processor Unit is simply a
vast array of electronic switches
which can either be on or off. These
two states are represented by binary
(base two) notation: there are two
binary digits (bits), namely 0 and 1.

Machine Code. This is the language
of the processor. This is called a
low-level language because it is
removed from the quasi-English of a
high-level language like BASIC.

KEYBOARD

The Keyboard is the traditional inter-
face between humans and the com-
puter. The standard QWERTY lay out is
supplemented by some special keys
on the MSX keyboard. The function
keys marked Fl-FlO allow complex
commands to be entered at one key
stroke.

Four cursor keys are used to movethe
cursor up, down and across the
screen. Some games programs can
be played with just the cursor keys
and require no joystick control.

A GRAPH (Graphics) key allows the
QWERTY keyboard to enter symbols
with one key stroke. The GRAPH key
works like the SHIFT key.

The full 73 key set is made up with
four keys which allow insertion and
deletion, one which returns the
cursor to the top left of the cleared
screen and one, SELECT, which is of
use in WP and data entry programs
but has no use in BASIC.

I

MEMORY

RAM (Random Access Memory) the
amount of memory quoted in K
(Kilobyte).

ROM (Read Only Memory) this is the
memory ‘set up' by the manufacturer.
MSX Basic language is stored here.
Like RAM this is quoted in K.

Byte. Memory is determined by the
number of characters which can be
stored. A character is coded by an
8 bit binary word which is called a
byte.

Kilobyte. As computer mathematics
are binary (to the base of 2) the
nearest binary number to 1000 is
1024. 1024 Bytes make one Kilo-
byte. Megabyte and Gigabyte are
terms for even larger numbers of
bytes.

User RAM. Computers tend to use a
lot of RAM when asked to generate
high resolution graphics, to run other
languages or specialised peripher-
als. User RAM is what's left over for
your programming.

GENERAL

Software is the general term for
computer programs. Hardware is
everything else, the processor,
keyboard etc. Firmware is software
stored in a 'hard' form, cartridges and
ROM chips are good examples.

Peripherals. The bolt-on goodies.
This term covers, printers, plotters,
joysticks, monitors and the like.

VDUs. A general term for a visual
output; stands for Visual Display Unit
and covers monitors, and TVs.

DATA STORAGE AND RETREVAL
Disks andCompadCassettesarethe

most common forms of permanent
data storage. Both are magnetic
record/erase devices. Disks offer
faster access to a greater amount of
stored information. Cassettes are
slow but cheap.

Disks are divided up into tracks and
sectors. The computer needs to know
where data has been stored; this
‘housekeeping’ function is run by a
program called the Disk Operating
System (DOS). The MSX-DOS (Micro-
Soft Extended Disk Operating Sys-
tem) is used by MSX machines. CP/M
DOS (Control Program for Micros) is
data compatible.

CARTRIDGE

The quickest way to load a program,
but as yet the most expensive.
Programs are permanently stored on
a micro chip in the cartridge case
which interfaces through a 50 pin
cartridge socket.

DATA TRANSMISSION

Computers can be networked to
enable one user to talk to others
individually or together through
‘electronic mailboxes‘. The tele-
phone system can be used via spec ia I
adapters to let one computer talk to
others.

Modem stands for Modulator/De-
modulator, a Modem turns the tele-
phone system into a giant cable
between distant computers. The
Modem is a ‘black box' which con-
verts the low voltage digital signals
from the computer into an analogue
signal which can be transmitted over
the 'phone system.

An Acoustic Coupler is a more
portable and often cheaper way of
interfacing a computer with the
‘phone network’. Here the computer
output is used through a modulator or
to drive a telephone handset through
a microphone and loudspeaker. Port-
able couplers offer the businessman
instant access to his data base back
at the office.

PRINTERS AND PLOTTERS
Dot matrix printers build up the
patterns of letters and characters by
a bank of pins striking through an
inked ribbon. Printqualityvariesfrom
terrible to good.

Daisywheel printers are named after
the spinning disc which carries the
type elements on its spokes. The very
highest print quality can be achieved
but speed and character set is often
limited.

Plotters. These draw graphs and
diagrams with a pen and can be either
of the flat bed or platen type. A choice
of pen colour is often offered.

Thennal printers. These offer fast,
quietbutlimitedqualityprintoftenon
especially treated paper which
reacts with heat to show visible
lettering. Material costs and print
quality are often a deciding factor
against such printers.

GETTING A PICTURE

All MSX computers will give sound
and pictures from a standard TV set
through their UHF output. A dedi-
cated monitor will give better resolu-
tion from the video output while the
audio output can be taken to a hi-fi
system if the monitor has no built in
loudspeaker. RGB outputs a I low indi-
vidual control over the Red, Green
and Blue electron guns i n the monitor
colour and can be used to produce
high quality graphic images.

SOUND

Computers have conventional aildio
outputs which can be used to drive
the tape or tuner input of any hi-fi
system. MSX computers have three
separate channels of sound, and a
fourth channel of noise. Stereo
outputsare possible. Acomputercan
be used to define the precise wave-
form of a sound just in the mannerof a
synthesiser.

TEXT

Computers are frequently used for
word processing, to write letters or
reports. Most text displays give 37
characters (or 40) by 24 lines. Real
word processor packages reform the
text screen to 80 characters (some to
64 characters wide). Powerful edit-
ing facilities enable the user to
delete and insert words, phrases or
paragraphs, to searchforandcorrect
spelling. Dictionary programs can
also be bought.

GRAPHICS

The sma I lest uni t of ‘graphic i nf orma-
tion’ is the pixel. This can be thought
of as the dot from which graphics can
be built up. The MSX system uses a
screen of 49152 pixels arranged in
256 columns of 192 lines.

Sprites are independently prog-
rammable groupings of pixels which
form a recognisable character which
can be ‘addressed’ around the
screen.

16 colours are available to the
programmer working in MSX.

aUlDE

Toshiba HX-10 £239

Toshiba was the first Japanese maker to bring out an MSX
computer and have been the most active in promoting the
standard. The HX-10 is a mid-priced unit, currently supplied with
a package of software and widely available through major
multiples. It is a 64K machine with the usual range of interfaces,
though there is only one true cartridge port.

Toshiba’s peripherals include a Joystick, an RS232-C adaptor,
a dot matrix printer, a printer plotter and the usual array of data
recorders and monitors. They are also importing a range of
software on cassette.

Sanyo MPC-lOO £299

Sanyo's M PC-100 is atthe top end of the MSX price scale. Quality
is one of the Sanyo’s best attributes. It is solidly made and will
take a beating. There is 64Kof RAM and a ful I range of i nterfaces.
A I ight pen holder highi ights that particular Sanyo peripheral —a
light pen for the creation of graphics on the screen. Sanyo also
have a Joystick, data recorder and a monitor amongtheir add-ons.
But it is the quality of the computer that is the main attraction.

^ rM. *

St t: ^

y i '

lan

h t 1

< >

COMPUTER

MEMORY

KEYBOARD

DISPLAY

INTERFACES

Maker

Model

Price

Total RAM

1

UserRAM

ROM Contents

Type

Numeric Keypad

Cursor

Output

1

£

joysticks

Expansion bus

Cartridge port

St

£

Serial port

,

C^non

V-20

£280

80K

64K

32K Microsoft
MSX BASIC

73 key,
full stroke

No

Keypad

RF.CV

40x24

2

2

Centronics

—

DIN ' 1

Gold^ar

FC-20

^£199

80K

64K

32K Microsoft
MSX BASIC

73 key,
full stroke

No

Keypad

RF,CV

40x24

2

Yes

1

Centronics

—

DIN 1

1 1

JVC

HC-7

'x-rw ; >:•>: . .*;■

-r;'- ;' .

I.S . / , , :

80K

64K

32K Microsoft
MSX BASIC

72 key,
fuH stroke

No

Keypad

RF, CV,
RGB

40x24

2

—

2

Centronics

—

DIN 1

' 1
1

Mitsubishi

ML-F48

;^5:

48K

32K

32K Microsoft
MSX BASIC

73 key,
full stroke

No

Keypad

RF,CV

40x24

2

Yes

1

Centronics

DIN

Mitsubishi

ML-F80

80K

64K

32 K Microsoft
MSX BASIC

73 key,
full stroke

No

Keypad

RF,CV

40x24

2

Yes

1

Centronics

DIN

— 1

Panasonic

CF2700

80K

64K

32K Microsoft
MSX BASIC

73 key,
full stroke

No

Keypad

RF,CV

40x24

2

—

2

Centronics

—

DIN

Sanyo

MCP-lOO

£299

80K

64K

32K Microsoft
MSX BASIC

73 key,
full stroke

No

Keypad

RF,CV

40x24

2

Yes

1

Centronics

—

DIN '

Sony

HB-75

£299

80K

64K

32K Microsoft
MSX BASIC
Sony Firmware

75 key,
full stroke

No

Keypad

RF, CV,
RGB

40x24

2

—

2

Centronics

—

DIN 1

SpKtra-

video

SVI-728

£250

80K

64K

32K Microsoft
MSX BASIC

90 key,
full stroke

Yes

Keys

RF,CV

40x24

2

Yes

1

Centronics

—

DIN 1 '

Toshiba

HX-10

£239

80K

64K

32K Microsoft
MSX BASIC

73^key,
full stroke

No

Keypad

RF,CV

40x24

2

Yes

1

Centronics

—

DIN

Yamaha

CX5M

£534

48K

32K

32K Microsoft
MSX BASIC

73 key,
full stroke

No

Keypad

RF,CV

40x24

2

Yes

1

Centronics

—

DIN

jJi

Canon V-20 £280

Canon are perhaps better known for their cameras and copiers.
This is their only MSX micro and it conforms to standard 64K
specifications. The attention-grabbing feature is the extra large
cursor keypad that is excellent for games playing. There are two
joystick ports too, and the price is a I ittle lower than the top range
MSX rivals.

1 Canon's peripherals are limited to a Joystick, though they do
make non-MSX printers. They are keeping a low profile in the
market, with machines available mainly through Comet and
Spectrum shops. The V-20 has few distinctive features, but does
all a 64K MSX micro should.

JVC HC-7 £279

JVC are big in the audio and video fields. In the computer field,
they are playing things cool. The HC-7 is a standard 64K MSX
machine, blessed with excellent styling and quality throughout.

There are no special features, though JVC do have plans for an
interface with video disc. They currently have a joystick and a
number of data recorders available. It is a case of watch this
space for other peripherals.

The JVC has a middling price and if looks mean anything, it isan
attractive machine. It offers nothing that other 64K machines
don’t have, other than style.

SOUND

OTHER

Reset button

#

I

t

1

1

s

“Av ’ • ■

1

<n

o>

\ ‘ ' . ..-. ■ •••■' i

§

-S

la

V

E

E

8

No

No

Built-in

None

M(2). C, RF

Canon (UK) Ltd, Canon House, 2 Manor
Rd, Wallington, Surrey SM6 OAJ

Comet

Spectrum

Nov ’84

Canon’s effort isn’t a world beater, but it
does a more than adequate Job

No

No

Built-in

Demo,
1 game

M(2),C,RF

Microdealer (UK) Ltd, 29 Burrowfields,
Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 ASS

600

Mar ’85

The emphasis is on value for money and
durability

Yes

: No

Built-in

1 utility,
Igame

M.C.RF

JVC, JVC House, 12 PriestleyWay, Eldon
Wall Trading Estate, Staples Corner,
London NW2

G

Nov ’84

JVC offer style and support plus a ‘branded’
expansion into music and video accessories

No

No

Built-in

Demo,

6 games

M, C. RF

Mitsubishi Electric (UK) Ltd, Otterspool
Way, Watford, HertsWD2 8LD

G

Mar *85

Plenty going for it and excellent value for
money to boot

No

No •

Built-in

Demo,

6 games

M, C, RF

Mitsubishi Electric (UK) Ltd, Otterspool
Way, Watford, Herts WD2 8LD

G

Nov ’84

Those after a reliable, solid MSX computer
won’t go far wrong

No

No

Built-in

None

M,C.T(3)

Panasonic UK Ltd, 300-318 Bath Rd,
Slough, Berks SLl 6SB

G

Mar ’85

The style of the Panasonic does make it
stand out from the crowd

Yes

No

Built-in

Demo,

3 games

M(2).C, RF

Sanyo Marubeni (UK) Ltd, Sanyo House,
8 Greycaine Rd, North Watford, Herts
WD2 4UQ

G

Nov '84

The Sanyo is one of the best MSX machines
in terms of quality

Yes

No

Built-in

3 utilities
tbuilt-in)

M(2). C. RF

Sony UK Ltd, Sony House, South St,
Staines, Middx TW18 4PF

G

Nov ’84

The Sony HB-75 shows what the MSX
standard could be all about

No

No

External

None

M, C, RF,

T ransf ormer

Spectravideo Ltd, 165 Garth Rd, Morden,
Surrey SM4 4LH

G

Nov ’84

It is more a business than a games machine

No

No

Built-in

Demo,

3 games

M(2). C, RF

Toshiba Ltd, Toshiba House, Frimley Rd,
Frimley, Camberley, Surrey

G

Nov ’84

One of the first and most numerous of the
MSX machines

No

No

External

Voicing

prog

YK-01

keyboard, M,
C,RF

Kemble-Yamaha Music (UK) Ltd, Mount
Ave, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MKl UE

50-h

Mar '85

As a synthesizer for the home, it is a super
instrument

WARDS
WIlllAMS ltd.

34 Stockport Road, Romiley, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 3AF

Tel: 061-430 2934

MITSUBISHI MSX

VISIT THE MSX
SPECIALISTS

Now in stock: Disk Drives, Monitors from £74.95, Printers
plus a large range of MSX Educational & Business
Software to choose from including Kuma Communications
Package to link your MSX to Prestel & Telecom Gold.

CALL IN FOR A DEMONSTRATION
V >

YOUR A MITSUBISHI MSX
COMPUTER DEALER

Mitsubishi ML-F48 on demonstration

Also stockists of MSX computers, printers,
joysticks, cassette recorders and disk drives
by Sony, Toshiba, JVC etc.

FRENCH

52 DORDAN RD, OORDAN, TAMWORTH. STAFFS

(0827) 892252

" T (1 mile from the A5 at Dordan)

i Instant Credit Facilities Available I

ML-F80 64K

£245

inc VAT

COMPUTERS

MSX COMPATIBLE PRINTERS

MANNESMANN

TALLY

MT 80 plus 1 00 CPS/80 COL

£220

SMITH

CORONIk

Fastex-80/FT 80 CPS/80 COL £185

D-1 00 1 20 CPS/80 COL £225

MSX PRINTER CABLES £15.53

All prices are inclusive of VAT

FREE DELIVERY anywhere in the UK mainland.

Payment by cheque or postal order to:

(OnUMY

COmPUTER

SERI/KES

ITDl

Telephone:
01-800 1796

01-802 1007

DATA PROCESSING

SUPPLIES & PERIPHERALS

39 CONWAY ROAD. LONDON N15 3BB

MITSUBISHI

MSX

COMPUTERS

Stockist of the Ml.F4tl + MI..F 80

23 Elmshott Lane, Cippenham, Slough, Berks.
Tel: (06286) 64333
also at

67 Dedworth Road, Windsor, Berks.

Tel: (07535) 59662

JL MITSIIBISHI MSX COMPUTERS

IF YOU WMIT THE m. . .WETIE GOT IT

R & J TELEVISIONS

jyiSX VALUE AT .

8 SUMMER STREET
LOSTWITHIEL

1 FRANK SISSON ^

CORNWALL PL22 ODH

Tel: 0208 872103

HIGH STREET, HUCKNALL
NOTTINGHAM — 0602 63201 1

JAMES DUCKWORTH
ELECTRICAL LTD

4 MARKET STREET
TOTTINGTON
BURY, LANCS

Tel: 020 488 2555

SELSDON PARK TV I
& VIDEO CENTRE

169 SELSDON PARK ROAD
ADDINGTON, CROYDON

SURREY

Tel: 01-651 4002 |

SOUND SENSE LTD

350 EDGWZUIE ROAD

LONDON W2

Tel: 01-402 2100

TOLLESBURY
TELEVISION SERVICE

3 HIGH STREET
TOLLESBURY
ESSEX CMS 8RG

Tel: 0621 869309

LOGIC ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERS LTD

1 1 HIGH STREET
CODNOR, DERBYSHIRE

Tel: 0773 43411

MITSUBISHI MSX COMPUTERS

164 LONDON ROAD
SOUTH LOWESTOFT

SUFFOLK
TeL 0502 6 1528

Stockists of MSX computers, accessories and
programmes. Come in for a demonstration

ERIC LEE
(ELECTRICAL) LTD

48-52 MARKET PLACE
POCKLINGTON
YORKSHIRE

Tel: 07592 3190

SUTCLIFFES

127 QUEEN STREET
MORLEY, NR. LEEDS
YORKS LS27 8HE

Tel: 0532 533395

♦ MIKIIRKUI MQY PnMPIITrPQ

IF YOU Yiniir 1UE BEST. . .WE 1 IE GOYIT

PETER TYSON

9 WEST TOWER STEET

CARLISLE
CUMBRIA CA3 8QT
Tel: 0228 25891

HOWES OF SOUTHBOROUGH LTD

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT
Tel : 0892 28682/37288

R. W. WEEKS LTD (IN-STORE)

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT

Tel : 0892 2491 9 I

.

D. SAUNDERS

10DARTFORDROAD

MARCH

CAMBRIDGESHIRE
Tel: 0354 53197

HARRIS & NASH LTD

189 THE BROADWAY
BROADSTONE
DORSET BH18 8DH

Tel: 0202 692391

Somerton Video Services

West street, Somerton, Somerset TA11 6QQ

Tel: 0458 73667

Video Care

33 High East Street, Dorchester DT1 1 HF

Tel: 0305 66981

227 TOnENHAM COURT ROAD

LONDON W1

Tel: 01-6371601

AUTOVISION

42 CHILWELL ROAD

BEESTON

NOTTINGHAM NG9 lEJ
Tel: 0602 257623

Mitsubishi TV, Video and
Computer Sales and Rentals

HI-FI STUDIOS

5 CHEAPSIDE, HANLEY
STOKE-ON-TRENT

Tel: 0782 274754

B&B RADIO & TV LTD

123 UXBRIDGE ROAD
RICKSMANSWORTH

HERTS

Tel: 0923 720730

SKELTONS

(SOUND & VISION) LTD

32 HIGH STREET
LEOMINSTER
HEREFORDSHIRE HR6 8LZ

Tel: 0568 2638

<L HITS R SHI MSI nnMUrTFRS

Whether you’re attacking
mutant hordes or rescuing
maidens in distress you'll find
a joystick invaluable.

For two player games, a pair
is essential. There's a huge
choice.

Ourguidesetsoutthe impor-
tant facts about MSX-compati-
ble Joysticks and will help you
make sense of the variety of
models available.

For each Joystick we've listed
the number of fire buttons,
whether it has a fast fire
facility, the number of firing
directions controls, the type of
feet, ifany, the cord length, the
supplier and of course the
price.

Model

Numbet

ofRre

Buttons

Firing

Direc-

tions

Fast

Fire

Feet

Lengri)

of^rd

Price

SiWritar

Atari CX-40

1

Sway

No

Rubber

feet

120cm

£7.99

Atari

International
(0753) 33344

Atari CX-24
Super-
Controller

2

Sway

No

None

lOOcmf

£9.99

Atari

International

Atari Trak-Ball
CX-80

n/a

Infinite

Yes

Rubber

feet

lOOcrn

£19.99

Atari

International

Canon VJ200

2

Sway

No

Suction

cups

120cm

£15.00

Canon (UK) Ltd
01-7733173

Competition
Pro 1000

1

Sway

No

Rubber

feet

150cm

£S.95

Kempston Micro
Electronics

Computer

Command

2

Sway

Yes

Rubber

feet

150cm

£27.95

CGL

Formula 1

3

Sway

No

Rubber

feet

150cm

£11.95

Kempston Micro
Electronics

Formula 2

Sway

m

Rubber

feet

150cnt

£16.95

Kempston Micro
Electronics

Hypershot

2

n/a

No

Rubber

feet

110cm

£15.99

Konami Ltd
01-4292446

Joy Card

2

Sway

No

Hand

held

120cm

£7.45

Hudson Soft
(UK) Ltd
01-458 3310

Joy Sensor

Touch

sensitive

pad

Infinite

Yes

Hand

held

ISOcm

£19.95

Consumer

Electronics

Junior Pro

1

Sway

No

Rubber

feet

150cm

£5.99

Kempston Micro
Electronics
(0234) 856633

JVC HCJ615

2

Sway

No

Suction

cups

150cm

£12.95

JVC (UK) Ltd
01-450 2621

Kraft Switch
Hitter

2

Sway

Yes

Rubber

feet

150cm

£14.95

Silica Shop

LeStik

1

Infinite

No

Hand

held

150cm

£19.95

Silica Shop

Lightning

Deluxe

1

Sway

No

Suction

cups

120cm

£7.50

Lightning
01-969 5255

Microlink
Beam Stick

2

Sway

No

Hand

held

n/a

TBA

Microlink
(0730) 895296

Mitsubishi

ML50JY

2

Sway

No

Suction

cups

150cm

£15.00

Mitsubishi
(UK) Ltd

(0923) 770000

Vulcan MSX

2

Sway

No

Suction

cups

150cm

£11.95

Vulcan
Electronics
01-203 6366

Panasonic

CF2201

3

Sway

No

Rubber

feet

150crrv

£19.95

Panasonic
(UK) Ltd
(75) 34522

Pointmaster

1

Sway

No

Rubber

feet

150cm

£14.65

Silica Shop

Pointmaster

Pro

1

Sway

Yes

Suction

cups

50cm

£14.95

Silica Shop

Quickshot 1

2

Sway

No

Suction

cups

120cm

£11.95

Spectravideo

Ltd

01-3300101

Quickshot 2

2

Sway

Yes

Suction

cups

150cm

£14.95

Spectravideo

Ltd

Quickshot 5

3

Sway

Yes

•

Suction

cup

150cm

£14.95

Spectravideo

Lts

Sanyo NJ002

2

Sway

No

Suction

cups

150cm

£12.95

Sanyo Marubeni
(0923) 46363

Scoreboard

2

Sway

No

Rubber

feet

lOOcm

£28.95

Kempston Micro
Electronics

Slik Stik

1

Sway

No

Plastic

ridges

150cm

£8.95

Consumer
Electronics
061-682 2339

Sony JS-55

3

Sway

Yes

Hand

held

115cm

£19.95

Sony (UK) Ltd
(81) 61688

Sony JS-75

3

Sway

Yes

H

Remote

(x>ntrol

£64.95

Sony (UK) Ltd

Starfighter

1

Sway

No

Plastic

ridges

150cm

£10.95

Consumer

Electronics

Sum lock
Pro-Ace
Competition

2

Sway

No

Rubber

feet

150cm

£12.95

Sumlock
Electronics
061-834 4233

Super Champ

2

12 way

No

Suction

cups

300cm

£12.95

Dean Electronics
(0344) 885661

Tac-2

2

Sway

No

Plastic

ridges

180cm

£15.95

Consumer

Electronics

TG En joystick

2

Sway

Yes

Suction

cups

lOOcm

£27.95

Silica Shop

TG Trak-Ball

1

Infinite

Yes

Rubber

feet

200cm

£49.95

Silica Shop

The Arcade

1

Sway

No

Hand

held

150cm

£15.45

Silica Shop

The Boss

1

Sway

No

Rubber

feet

1 lOOcm

£17.95

Consumer
Games Ltd
01-508 5600

The Kraft

1

Sway

No

Hand

held

200cm

£9.95

Silica Shop
01-309 1111

Toshiba

HX-J400

2

Infinite

No

Rubber

feet

150cm

£12.95

Toshiba (UK) Ltd
(0276) 62222

Tracker Ball RB2

2

Infinite

Yes

Rubber

feet

lOOcm

£79.00

Central Trading
Exchange
(0582) 64334

Voltmace
Delta 3SM

3

Infinite

Yes

Hand

held

130cm

£9.95

Voltmace Ltd
(0462) 894410

Wico 3 way
Deluxe
(3 handles)

2

Sway

No

Sticky

feet

150cm

£22.95

CGL

Wico Red Ball

2

Sway

Yes

Rubber

feet

150cm

£19.95

CGL

Wico Trak-Ball

2

Infinite

No

Rubber

feet

150cm

£34.95

CGL

YOU WWT

Sudbury Micro Systems

for

A A

MITSUBISHI

COMPUTERS

ML-F48 IN STOCK NOW

Plus excellent selection of MSX
software, joysticks, books etc

64 North Street, Sudbury
Tel: (0787)311839

BEST. . .WE'VE

CHESHIRE

UNBEATABLE
PRICES!

MITSUBISHI ML-F80

QR with free

software 6-pack

■.w

hi

GOOD SELECTION OF SOFTWARE NOW AVAILABLE
ALL MODELS ON DEMONSTRA TION

MAILORDER OUR SPECIALITY

ST ANN’S PARADE, WILMSLOW, CHESHIRE

Telephone:

(0625) 526213

III I.

COLLINGWOOD

T.V. SERVICES

for

IN STOCK NOW
ML-F80 AND ML-F48

Also stockists of Sanyo & Goldstar MSX
Computers, Lightpens, Joysticks, Data
Recorders, Colour Monitors

NORTHAMPTON’S LARGEST RANGE

OF AASX SOFTWARE

Buy from the experts with

confidence

17 COLLINGWOOD RD, NORTHAMPTON

Tel: (0604) 714770

QUESTAR

ELECTRONICS

STOCKISTS OF
AASXML-F48 AND ML-F80

For more information and a
demonstration, call in now:

1 29 Waltham Green Court
Moore Park Road, Fulham SW6

Telephone: 01-381 0108

Colour monitors have been
designed specifically to dis-
playcomputergenerated char-
actersandgraphicsclearlyand
efficiently. Eye strain is also
reduced.

Resolution refers to the
number of pixels (computer
defined dots) on the monitor
display surface. High and
medium resolutions contain
higher pixel densities then the
standard so can show more
detailed images.

Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT)
generate the monitor’s visual

display and the size, usually
measured in inches refers to
the picture diagonal.

Display depends on the

monitor resolution. High and
medium resolutions can dis-
play 80 characters across 25
lines. Standard displays 40

characters across 25 lines.

There are two main ways of
sending a monitor signal. With
RGB [red, green and blue] the
three colours are sent as
separate signals. Only the
Sony and JVC will accept RGB
monitors. PAL or Composite
Video signals are sent with the
three colours already synchro-
nised.

Some monitors have the
facility to switch to a green
monochrome screen which is
useful forapplicationssuchas
word processing.

Model

Resolution

C.R.T.

Display

Input

Green Scnen
Option

BulK In
Speaker

Brightness

Contrast

Horizontal

Vertical

Case Colour

Supplier

Price

Commodore 1701

Medium

Win

40x25

PAL

No

Yes

Yes

No

Cream

Commodore (0536)
205555

£230

Cub 1431 AP/MS

Standard

Win

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Beige

Microvitec
(0274) 390011

£259

Cub 1431 AP/DS

Standard

Win

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Beige

Microvitec

£259

Cub 1451 AP/MS

Medium

14in

80x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Beige

Microvitec •

£344

Cub 1451 AP/DS

Medium

14in

80x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Beige

Microvitec

£344

Cub 2030/CS

Standard

20in

80x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Beige

Microvitec

£443

Ferguson MCOl

Standard

14in

40x25

RGB

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dark Grey

Ferguson 01-807 3060

£230

Fidelity CM14

Standard

14in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Grey

Fidelity 01-965 8771

£200

Fidelity CTM1400

Standard

14in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Grey

Fidelity

£220

Fidelity CTV20T

Standard

20in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Teak

Fidelity

£300

Fidelity CTV22T

Standard

22in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Teak

Fidelity

£340

Grundig P40125

Medium

35.6cm

80x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Silver

Grundig 01-659 2468

£220

Grundig P40145

Medium

35.6cm

80x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Silver

Grundig

£260

Grundig P55145

Medium

50.8cm

80x25

RGB

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Silver

Grundig

£360

Grundig C2402

Standard

14in

40x25

RGB

No

Yes

Yes

No

Silver

Newark Video Centre
(0636) 71475

£287

Grundig C3104

Standard

16in

40x25

RGB

No

Yes

Yes

No

Silver

Newark

£300

Grundig C3404

Standard

16in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

No

Silver

Newark

£344

Grundig C60100

Standard

20in

40x25

RGB

No

Yes

Yes

No

Silver

Newark

£340

Grundig C64100

Standard

20in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

No

Silver

Newark

£378

Grundig C70100

Standard

22in

40x25

RGB

No

Yes

Yes

No

Silver

Newark

£378

Grundig C74100

Standard

22in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

No

Silver

Newark

£418

Grundig C84100

Standard

26in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

No

Silver

Newark

£546

Hantarex CT900/3

Standard

14in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

White

Hantarex 01-778 1414

£297

Hantarex CT900/D1

Standard

14in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

White

Hantarex

£297

Hantarex CT900/D'

Medium

14in

80x25

RGB

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

White

Hantarex

£435

Hantarex CT900/D1

Standard

26in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

White

Hantarex

£483

ITT RL 2315

Standard

14in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

No

Grey

TT Consumer Products
(0268) 3040

£223

ITT RL 2310/M

Standard

14in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

No

Grey

ITT

£259

ITTCT 2600

Medium

22in

80x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

No

Teak

in

£344

ITT CT 2700/M

Medium

26in

80x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

No

Teak

in

£414

Kaga Vision Ex

Standard

12in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Cream

Data Efficiency
(0442) 60155

£248

Kaga Vision II

Medium

12in

80x25

RGB

No

No

Yes

Yes

Cream

Data Efficiency

£328

Kaga Vision III

High

12in

. 80x25

RGB

No

No

Yes

Yes

Cream

Data Efficiency

£459

Luxor HR14

High

14in

80x25

RGB

No

No

Yes

No

Cream

Emco Electronics 01-737
0971

£516

Normende 1534

Standard

14in

40x25

PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Platinum,
Black, Grey

Nordmende (0296) 20501

£229

Nordmende 3510

Standard

lOin

40x25

PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Platinum,
Black, Grey

Nordmende

£299

Nordmende 3534

Standard

14in

40x25

PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Red, Grey

Nordmende

£249

Nordmende 3636

Standard

16in

40x25

PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Grey

Nordmende

£299

Nordmende 3630

Standard

20in

40x25

PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Platinum,
Black, Grey

Nordmende

£299

Nordmende 3532

Standard

22in

40x25

PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Walnut,
Platinum,
Black, Grey

Nordmende

£359

Nordmende 5102

Standard

22in

40x25

PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Walnut Grey

Nordmende

£449

Philips CT 2007

Medium

14in

80x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

No

Cream

Philips 01-689 2166

£263

Phoenix FTC-1203

High

12in

80x25

RGB

No

No

Yes

Yes

Cream

Emco Electronics

£459

Portatel

Standard

20in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Silver

Portatel (76) 88972

£322

Portatel Luxor

Standard

16in

40x25

• RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Silver

Portatel

£344

Portatel 5634

Standard

22in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Silver

Portatel

£357

Portatel

Standard

26in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

No

Silver

Portatel

£403

Profeel KX 20PSI

Medium

20in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

No

Yes

Yes

Silver

Sony (81)61688

£500

Sabre

Medium

14in

80x25

RGB

No

No

Yes

No

White

Cotron Electronics (0203)
21247

£523.25

Sabre-LP

Medium

14in

80x25

RGB

No

No

Yes

No

White

Cotron Electronics

£561.20

Sanyo CD3125

Standard

14in

40x25

RGB

No

No

Yes

Yes

Cream

Sanyo (0923) 46363

£228.85

Sanyo CD3195

Standard

14in

40x25

RGB/PAL

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Silver

Sanyo

I £309.35

Sanyo CD3117

Medium

14in

80x25

RGB

No

No

Yes

Yes

Cream

Sanyo

£458.85

Sanyo CRT50

Medium

14in

80x25

RGB

No

No

Yes

Yes

Silver

Sanyo

£458.85

Type: M — Dot matrix printer.
The image is printed by the
impact of pins from a pin
matrix, the particular pins de-
termining the shape of the
character. Dot matrix printers
are very fast.

D — Daisywheel printer.
These printers work rather like
electronic typewriters, using a
daisywheel of formed charac-
ters. Quality is high, but
speeds are slower and you are
I imited to the characters on the
daisywheel.

T — Thermal printer. The
print head is heated, thus
transferring inkto paper, using
a matrix of needles. These
printers run very quietly.

I — Inkjet printer. Squirts of
ink are directed at the paper to
form the characters. It is all
relatively new and pricey.
Matrix size: Applicable only to
dot matrix a nd therma I printers
— the number of pins used to
form a character. Maximum
figures are given, the more, the
better the quality.

Maximum speed: The number
of characters per second (cps)
that can be printed.

Paper width: The maximum
width of paper the printer will
take in inches.

Paper feed: T — T ractor feed .
Continuous paper, perforated
at the edges, i s used and width
is adjustable.

P — Pi nf eed . As tractor feed ,
but paper width is fixed.

F — Friction feed . The sort of
feed found on typewriters, for
one sheet of paper at a time.
Graphics: Block graphics.

Prints using set characters
provided by the printer.

H — Hi-res graphics. The
printer can print anything that
appears on the screen, in text
of graphics modes,
interface : C — Centronics. The
printer interface found on MSX
computers.

R — RS232C. An alternative
printer interface that can be
added to MSX computers.
Other: D — the printer will print
the lower portion of characters
that extend below the line (g,J
etc.)

M — the printer has a slower
printing speed to give near
letter quality printing.

B — the printer is battery
powered.

C — the pri nter pri nts i n more
than one colour.

Model

Type

Matrix

Size

Max

Speed

Paper

Widths

1 Paper
Feed

Graphics

Interface

Other

Price

Supplier

ACT Winter 11

M

9x9

lOOcps

10

T.F

H

C

D

£339

ACT

ACT Writer 12

M

9x7

163cps

—

T.F

H

C

D

£799

ACT

ACT Writer 12S

M

9x7

180cps

15

T.F

H

c

D

£799

ACT

ACT Writer 12FC

D

NA

180cps

15

T.F

H

c

D.C

£914

ACT

Brother HR5

M

9x9

30cps

8

F

H

C.R

B.D

£181

Brother

Brother EP44

M

24x18

16cps

8

F

—

R

K,B

£261

Brother

Brother EP120

M

12x18

120cps

10

T.F

H

C.R

M.D

£305

Brother

Brother HR15

D

—

13cps

13.5

F

—

C.R

D.C

£512

Brother •

Brother HR25

D

NA

25cps

16.5

T.F

—

C.R

D.C

£863

Brother

Brother HR35

D

NA

35cps

16.5

T.F

—

C.R

D.C

£1,064^

Brother

Canon PW1080A

M

11x9

160cps

10

T.F

H

C

D

£401

Canon

Canon PW1156A

M

11x9

160cps

17

T.F

H

C

D

£516

Canon

Canon PJ1080A

1

7x9

37cps

8.5

F

H

C

C

£574

Canon

Centronics
GLP 30101-6

M

9x9

50cps

8

T.F

H

C

D

£230

Centronics

Centronics
Horizon 80

M

11x9

160cps

12

T.F

H

C

D.M

£541

Centronics

Centronics
Horizon 156

M

11x9

160cps

16.5

T.F

H

C

D.M

£759

Centronics

Centronics
Prinstation Q40

M

7x8

160cps

10

T

M

C.R

D

£1.208

Centronics

Citizen 560P

M

7x5

65cps

3V2

F

B

C.R

C

£137

Datac Ltd

Citizen 510

M

5x7

45cps

3

F

B

C.R

—

£205

Datac

C. Itoh 7500

M

9x9

105cps

11

T.F

B

C

—

£403

C. Itoh

C. Itoh 8510S

M

9x9

180cps

11

T.F

H

C.R

D

£518

C. Itoh

C. Itoh 8510SC

M

9x9

180cps

11

T.F

H

C.R

D.C

£633

C. Itoh

C. Itoh 1550S

M

9x9

180cps

15

T,F

H

C.R

D

£748

C. Itoh

C. Itoh 1550SC

M

9x9

180cps

15

T.F

H

C.R

D.C

£863

C. Itoh

Colourjet 132

1

5x8

40cps

8

F

H

C

C.D

£633

Integrex

Daisystep 2000

D

NA

20cps

13

F

—

C

—

£334

Micro P.

Dyneer 12

D

NA

12cps

11.5

F

—

C

D

£316

X-Data

Dyneer DW16

D

NA

16cps

16

F

—

C.R

D

£378

X-Data

Dyneer DW20

D

NA

20cps

13

1

F

—

C.R

D

£615

X-Data

Epson P-40

T

7x9

45cps

4

F

H

C

D.B

£100

Epson

Epson RX-80/T

M

9x9

lOOcps

i 10

T

H

C

D

£286

Epson

Epson RX-80/FT

M

9x9

lOOcps

1 10

T.F

H

C

D

£328

Epson

Epson FX-80

M

9x9

160cps

' 10

T

H

c •

D

£503

Epson

Epson DXlOO

D

NA

13cps

1 11

F

—

C.R

—

£546

Epson

Epson TX-80

M

9x9

160cps

10

T

H

C

D

£644

Epson

Epson MX-lOO

M

9x9

lOOcps

16

T

H

C

D

£546

Epson

Epson FX-lOO

M

9x9

80cps

16

T

H

C

D

£654

Epson

Getex D14

D

NA

13cps

13.5

F

—

C.R

£288

Geveke

Getex SllCQ

M

9x7

lOOcps

—

T.F

H

C.R

D

£516

Geveke

Getex S31 CQ

M

9x7

lOOcps

15.5

T.F

H

C.R

D

£460

Geveke

Honeywell Lll-1

M

9x9

80cps

—

T.F

H

C

D

£401

Geveke

Honeywell

Sll-CQ

M

16x35

lOOcps

—

T.F

H

R

M.D

£516

Geveke

Honeywell

L31C0

M

11x9

150cps

12

T

B

C

D

£776

Geveke

Janome

CP1018

M

—

180cps

13

T

B

C

C.D

£892

Thame

Systems

Juki GlOO

D

—

18cps

15.5

F

—

C

—

£459

Micro P.

Juki G300

D

—

40cps

15.5

F

—

C

—

£919

Micro P.

Mannesman
Tally 80

M

9x7

80cps

10

T.F

B

C,R

D

£250

Mannes-
man Tally

Mannesman
Tally 160

M

9x7

160cps

10

T.F

B

C.R

D

£631

Mannes-
man Tally

Mitsui 2200

M

9x9

180cps

10

F

H

C

D

£516

Thame

Mitsui 4200

M

9x9

180cps

15

F

H

C

D

£643

Thame

MP165

M

17x17

160cps

—

T.F

H

R

M.D

£309

Micro P.

NEC PC 8023

D

9x7

120cps

9

T.P,F

H.G

C

D

£229

NEC

NEC Pinwriter P2

M

7x9

180cps

10

T.F

—

C.R

D.M

£747

NEC

OKI Microline 82A

M

9x9

120cps

9.5

P.F

B

C.R

D.M

£344

X-Data

OKI Microline 92

M

9x9

160cps

9.5

P.F

H

C.R

D.M

£493

X-Data

OKI Microline 830

M

9x9

120cps

15.5

T.F

B

C.R

D

£562

X-Data

OKI Microline 93

M

9x9

160cps

15.5

T.F

H

C

D.M

£673

X-Data

OKI Microline 84

M

9x9

200cps

15.5

T.F

B

C

—

£919

X-Data

Olivetti DM5060

M

9x7

120cps

—

F

H

C

D

£459

Olivetti

Olivetti DM4100

M

9x7

120cps

—

T.F

H

C

D

£666

Olivetti

Olympia Compact

D

NA

14cps

13.5

T.F

—

C.R

—

£459

Intelligent

Olympia ESW 102

D

NA

17cps

17

F

—

C.R

—

£650

Intelligent

Panther DX109

M

9x9

96cps

10

T.F

H

C

D

£229

Datac

Model

Type

Matrix

Size

Max

Speed

Paper

Widths

Paper

Fe^

Graphics

Interface

Other

Price

Supplier

Panther II DX120

M

9x9

120cps

10

T.F

H

C

D.M

£367

Datac

Paper Tiger 8010

M

36x18

180cps

9

T.F

H

C.R

D.M

£539

Data-prod

Paper Tiger 8020

M

36x18

180cps

14

T,F

H

C.R

D.M

£742

Data-prod

Qume Letter Pro
20

D

NA

20cps 1

13

F

1

—

R.C

—

£604

Qume

Remstar 201

D

NA

13.3cps

13.5

F

—

C.R

K.D

£454

PMS

Seikosha GP-50A

M

5x8

40cps

5

F

H

C

—

£100

DRG

Seikosha

GP-500A

M

5x7

50cps I

10

T

—

C.R

—

£180

DRG

Seikosha lOOA

M

5x7

50cps

10

T

—

C.R

—

£169

DRG

Seikosha

GP-550A

M

9x8

50cps

10

P.F

H

C

M.D

£230

DRG

Seikosha

GP-250X

M

5x7

50cps

10

P.F

H

C.R

D

£270

DRG

Seikosha 700A

M

5x8

50cps

10

P.F

H

C.R

C

£350

DRG

Shinwa CPA80

M

13x9

lOOcps

10

T.F

B

C

D

£229

Micro P.

Silver Reed
EXP400

D

NA

12cps

12

F

•

—

C.R

D

£288

Silver

Reed

Silver Reed
EXP500

D

NA

16cps

13

F

—

C.R

D

£615

Silver

Reed

Silver Reed
EXP550

D

NA

19cps

17

F

—

C.R

D

£654

Silver

Reed

Smith Corona
Fastext 80

M

9x8

80cps

11

T.F

H

C

D

£224

Smith

Corona

Smith Corona TPl

D

NA

Heps

13

F

—

R

D

£250

Smith

Corona

Smith Corona
DlOO

M

9x8

120cps

11

T.F

H

C

D

£286

Smith

Corona

Smith Corona
LIOOO

D

NA

12cps

13

F

—

C.R

D

£299

Smith

Corona

Smith Corona
D200

M

17 X 18

160cps

11

T.F

H

C.R

M.D

£483

Smith

Corona

Smith Corona
EC1300

D

NA

14cps

14

F

—

C.R

D.K

£569

Smith

Corona

Smith Corona
D300

M

17x18

160cps

15

T.F

H

C.R

M.D

£633

Smith

Corona

Sony PRN-C41

Pens

NA

lOcps

—

F

H

C

D.C.G

£278

Sony

Star STX-80

T

9x10

60cps

10

F

B

C

D

£171

West

Star Gemini 10

M

9x9

120cps

10

F

B.H

C

D

£286

West

Star Gemini 15

M

9x9

120cps

15

F

B

C

D

£413

West

Star Power type

D

NA

18cps

10

F

—

C

D

£436

West

Star Delta 10

M

9x11

160cps

10

T.F

B

C.R

D

£459

West

Star Delta 15

M

9x11

160cps

15

T.F

B

C.R

D

£610

West

Star Radix 10

M

9x 11

200cps

10

T.F

B

C.R

M.D

£620

West

Star Radix 15

M

9x11

200cps

15

T.F

B

C.R

M.D

£735

West

Taxan KP-810

M

9x9

140cps

10

T.F

H

C.R

D

£367

Data E.

Taxan KP-910

M

9x9

140cps

17

T.F

H

C

D

£459

Data E.

Toptronic 15

D

NA

13cps

13.5

F

H

C.R

—

£375

PMS

Toshiba HX-P570

Pens

NA

-cps

12

F

H

. C

C.D.G

£250

Toshiba

Toshiba HX-P550

M

—

105cps

16

F

H

C

D.G

£350

Toshiba

Toptronic 15

D

—

13.3

13.5

F

—

C.R

K.D

£431

PMS

Triumph Adler
TRD 7020

D

NA

20cps

14

F

—

C.R

D

£431

Triumph

Adler

Triumph Adler
DRH 80/1

M

7x9

80cps

12

T.F

H

C.R

D

£520

Triumph

Adler

Triumph Adler
DRH 136

M

7x9

120cps

—

T.F

H

C.R

D.M

£621

Triumph

Adler

Turbo 20

D

NA

20cps

15

F

—

C

—

£344

OEM

VRX80

M

7x9

lOOeps

9.5

T.F

H

C.R

D

£454

Integrex

K — the printer has a
keyboard, so can be used as a
typewriter.

F — the printer can be used
as a viewdata terminal.

G — the printer can print
MSX graphics.

ADDRESS

ACT — (021) 5012284
Brother Office Equipment —
061-330 6531

Canon (UK) Ltd — 01-773
3173

Centronics — 01-581 1011

C. Itoh Electronics Co. Ltd —
01-946 4960

Datac Ltd — 061-941 2361

Data Efficiency — (0442)
60155

Dataproducts (Retail Division)
Ltd — (0784) 38733

DRG Business Machines —
(0934) 419914

Epson — 01-902 8892

Euro Pacific Computers (Int)
Ltd — (0245) 26590

Geveke Electronics —
(04867) 88676

Integrex Ltd — (0283)
215432

Intelligent Interfaces —
(0789) 296879

Mannesman Tally Ltd —
(0734) 788711

Microntel — (0273) 205099

Micro Peripherals — (0256)
473232

NEC — 01-267 7000

Newbury Data — (0784)
61500

OEM Peripherals — 01-748
8404

Olivetti Peripheral Equipment

— 01-785 6666

PMS Developments — (0432)
265768

Qume (UK) Ltd — (0734)
584646

Silver Reed (UK) Ltd — (0923)
45976

Smith Corona Data Products
-01-900 1222

Sony (UK) Ltd — (81) 61688

Thame Systems — (084) 421
6698

Toshiba (UK) Ltd— (0276)
62222

Triumph Adler — 01-253
5608

WBM Business Supplies Ltd

— (04862) 66444

West Coast Peripherals —
(0734) 752273

X-Data — (0753) 72331

GAMES AND SIMULATORS

Title

Type

Format

Joystick

Price

Supplier

3D Golf

Arcade

Cass

No

£7.95

Toshiba

737 Flight
Simulator

Simulator

Cass

Yes

£9.59

Microsoft

Adventure Quest

Adventure

Cass

No

£9.95

Level 9

Alpha Blaster

Arcade

Cass

Yes

TBA

Aackosoft

Antarctic

Adventure

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£17.85

Konami

Ant Attack

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Quicksilva

Anty

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Monwood

Armoured Assault

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Spectravideo

Athletic Land

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£17.85

Konami

Backgammon

Traditional

Cass

Yes

£8.95

Electric

Battle Cross

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.00

Sony

Battleship

Clapton

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Toshiba

Beam Rider

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£11.99

Activision

Binary Land

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£8.95

Kuma

Blagger

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Alligata

BMX Racers

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£1.99

Mastertronic

Boardello

Traditional

Cass

No

£7.95

Bubble Bus

Bugaboo
(The Flea)

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Quicksilva

Breakout

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Bridge

Traditional

Cass

No

£9.95

Alligata

Buzz Off

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£8.95

Electric

Cannon Fighter

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Morwood

Cave Adventure

Adventure

Cass

No

£5.95

Knights

Chuckie Egg

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.90

A&F

Circus Charlie

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£14.95

Konami

Coco and the
Castle

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Kuma

Colossal

Adventure

Adventure

Cass

No.

£9.95

Level 9

Comic Bakery

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£14.95

Computer Billiards

Traditional

Cart

Yes

£15.00

Sony

Crazy Bullet

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Crazy Golf

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Mr Micro

Crazy Train

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.00

Sony

Cribbage

Traditional

Cass

No

£5.95

Kuma

Cross Force

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Spectravideo -

Cubit

Strategy

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Mr Micro

Daredevil Denis

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Visions

Decathlon

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£11.99

Activision

Disc Warrior

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Alligata

Dog Fighter

Arcade

Cass

No

£6.95

Kuma

Dorodon

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.00

Sony

DrillerTanks

Arcade

Cass

No

£8.95

Kuma

Dungeon Adventure

Adventure

Cass

No

£9.95

Level 9

Emerald Isle

Adventure

Cass

No

£6.95

Level 9

Eric & The
Floaters

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£5.95

Kuma

Exploding Atoms

Strategy

Cass

No

£5.95

Knights

Fire Rescue

Arcade

Cass

No

£7.95

Kuma

Flightpath 77

Simulator

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Anirog

Flipper Slipper

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Spectravideo

Frantic Freddy

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Spectravideo

Fred

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Quicksilva

GlugGlug

Arcade

Cass

Yes

TBA

CRL

Golf

Traditional

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Grid Runner

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£5.00

Llamasoft

Gumshoe Logic

Strategy

Cass

No

£9.20

Megacycal

H.E.R.O.

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£11.99

Activision

Hero

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£3.95

Microcom

H iway Star

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Holdfast

Strategy

Cass

No

£5.95

Kuma

Hole In One

Traditional

Cart

Yes

£14.95

Morwood

Hot Shoe

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£5.95

Longman

Humphrey

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Mr Micro

Hunchback

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.90

Ocean

Hustler

Traditional

Cass

Yes

£6.99

Bubble Bus

Hyper Sports

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£14.95

Konami

Hyper Sports 2

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£14.95

Konami

Hyper Viper

Arcade

Cass

No

£7.95

Kuma

I.G.I.

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£3.95

Microcom

Illegus

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Jet Bomber

Arcade

Cass

Yes

TBA

Aackosoft

* Title

Type

1

Format 1

'

Joystick

Price

Supplier

Jet Fighter

Arcade

Cass

Yes

TBA

Aackosoft

Jet Set Willy

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Software Proj

Juno First

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.00

Sony

Lazy Jones

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£8.95

Terminal

Le Mans

Arcade

Cass

No

£9.95

Electric

Les Flics

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

PSS

Lords Of Time

Adventure

Cass

No

£9.95

Level 9

Knight Othello

Strategy

Cass

No

£5.95

Knights

Magic Carpet

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£1.99

Mastertronic

Manic Miner

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Software Proj

Marine Battle

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Maxima

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

PSS

Midnight Building

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Midway

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Mind Control

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£1.99

Mastertronic

MrChing

Arcade

Cart 1

Yes

£14.95

Morwood

Mr Wong’s Laundry

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Artie

MSX21

Traditional

Cart

No

£18.80

Panasonic

MSX Darts

Traditional

Cass

Yes

£4.95

Orpheus

Ninja

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Kuma

Norseman

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£8.95

Electric

Nug-lt

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£3.95

Microcom

Oh Mummy!

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£5.95

Longman

Out Space

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Mirage

Packie

A rcade

Cass

Yes

£4.95

Microcom

Pairs

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Panic Junction

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Morwood

Panzer Attack

Strategy

Cass

No

£7.95

Lothlorien

Pinball

Arcade

Cass

No

£7.95

Toshiba

Pineapply

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Pitfall II

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£11.99

Activision

Polar Star

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Toshiba

Punchy

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Mr Micro

Pyramid Warp

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Toshiba

Return To Eden

Adventure

Cass

No

£9.95

Level 9

River Raid

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£11.99

Activision

Rollerball

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£14.95

Morwood

S.A.S.A.

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Sector Alpha

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Spectravideo

Shark Hunter

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£9.95

Electric

Smash Out

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£5.95

Knights

Snooker

Traditional

Cass

Yes

£8.95

Visions

Snowball

Adventure

Cass

No

£9.95

Level 9

Sorcery

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£8.95

Virgin

' Space Shuttle

Simulation

Cass

Yes

£11.99

Activision

Space Walk

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£1.99

Mastertronic

Sparkle

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.00

Sony

Special Operations

Adventure

Cass

No

£6.95

MC Lothlorien

Spectron

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Spectravideo

Spooks &

Ladders

Arcade

Cass

No

£6.95

Kuma

Squish ’em

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Star Avenger

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Kuma

Starship

Simulator

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Step Up

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£14.95

Morwood

Stop The Express

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Kuma

Super Billiards

Traditional

Cart

Yes

£14.95

Morwood

Superchess

Traditional

Cass

No

£6.95

Kuma

Super Cobra

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£14.95

Konami

Supermaze

Strategy

Cass

Yes

£6.95

. .

Morwood

Title

Type

Format

Joystick

Price

Supplier

Supermind

Strategy

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Morwood

Superpuzzle

Strategy,

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Morwood

Super Snake

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£14.95

Morwood

Swamp

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£3.95

Microcom

T awara

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Tele Bunnie

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Tennis

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£14.95

Konami

The Snowman

Arcade

Cass

No

£7.95

Quicksilva

The Wreck

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£9.95

Electric

Time Bandits

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£6.95

PSS

Time Pilot

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£14.95

Konami

Track & Field 1

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£14.95

Konami

Track & Field 2

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£14.95

Konami

Turboat

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Turmoil

Arcade

Cart

Yes

£18.80

Panasonic

Vicious Viper

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£5.95

Knights

Waffle

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£3.95

Microcont

Weedy

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£3.95

Microcom

Zakil Wood

Adventure

Cass

No

£7.95

Mr Micro

Zaxxon

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£11.95

Electric

Zenji

Arcade

Cass

Yes

£11.99

Activision

Title

Type

Format

joystick

Price

Supplier

3D Hypermath

Maths

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Longman

Adder Sums

Maths

Cass

No

£14.95

Ampalsoft

BMX Number Jump'

Maths

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Longman

Calculation 1

Maths

3 Cass

No

£9.95

Morwood

Calculation 2

Maths

3 Cass

No

£9.95

Morwood

Challenge My
Bluff

General

2 Cass

No

£9.95

Soft Cat

French Is Fun

Language

Cass

No

£7.95

CDS

Fun Sums

Maths

Cass

No

£14.95

Ampalsoft

Fun With Words

Reading

Cass

No

£14.95

Ampalsoft

German Is Fun

Language

Cass

No

£7.95

CDS

Gods Of The Tomb

General

Cass

No

£9.20

Megacycal

Introducing Circle

1 Maths

Cass

No

£7.95

Spectravideo

Introducing Circle

2 Maths

Cass

No

£7.95

Spectravideo

Intro Percentages

Maths

Cass

No

£7.95

Spectravideo

Intro To BASIC

BASIC

Cass

No

£6.95

Spectravideo

Intro To Numbers

Maths

3 Cass

No

£9.95

Morwood

Italian Is Fun

Language

Cass

No

£7.95

CDS

junior Maths

Maths

Cass

No

£5.95

Knights

Kriss Kross Quiz

General

2 Cass

No

£9.95

Soft Cat

Let’s Go MSX

BASIC

2 Cass

No

£9.95

Soft Cat

Mastermind

General

Cass

No

£9.99

Mirrorsoft

Mastermind Quiz

General

Cass

No

£5.99

Mirrorsoft

Math Bug

Maths

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Spectravideo

Maths Invader

Maths

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Stell Software

Memory

Training

3 Cass

No

£9.95

Morwood

Monkey Academy

Maths

Cart

Yes

£17.85

Konami

Number Painter

Maths

Cass

Yes

£8.95

ASK

Quiz Safari

General

Cass

No

£9.20

Megacycal

MSX BASIC
Tutorial

BASIC

Cass

No

£5.95

Knights

Reasoning

Training

3 Cass

No

£9.95

Morwood

Reflexes

Training

3 Cass

No

£9.95

Morwood

Revise Computers

Computing

Cass

No

£8.50

Megacycal

Title

Type

Format

joystick

Price

Supplier

Revise Physics

Physics

Cass

No

£8.50

Megacycal

Simple Addition 1

Maths

Cass

No

£7.95

Spectravideo

Simple Subtraction

1 Maths

Cass

No

£7.95

Spectravideo

Spanish Is Fun

Language

Cass

No

£7.95

CDS

Star Words

Spelling

Cass

No

£6.95

Spectravideo

Sum Measure

Maths

Cass

No

£14.95

Ampalsoft

Sum Takeaway

Maths

Cass

No

£14.95

Ampalsoft

Sum Times

Maths

Cass

No

£14.95

Ampalsoft

Sum Weights

Maths

Cass

No

£14.95

Ampalsoft

Teach Electricity

Physics

Cass

No

£9.20

Megacycal

The Sphinx Quiz

General

Cass

No

£9.20

Megacycal

Typing Tutor

Typing

Cass

No

£5.95

Knights

Uni’s Learning

Maths

Cass

No

£6.95

Spectravideo

Word Wobbler

Words

Cass

Yes

£7.95

Longman

Title

Type

Format

joystick

Price

Supplier

Aackobase

Database

Cass

No

£40.00

Aackosoft

Aackotext

Text

Cass

No

£40.00

Aackosoft

Cards

' Database

Cart

No

£49.00

Computer Mates

Cash Accounts

Financial

Cart

■ No

£149.0

Computer Mates

Cash Book

Financial

Cass

No

£14.95

Micro Aid

Crediquote

Retail

Cart

No

£100.0

Office junior

Database

Database

Cass

No

£19.95

Kuma

Double Entry
Financial

Financial

Cart

No

£99.00

Computer Mates

Calculator

Financial

Cass

No

£6.95

Spectravideo

Homewriter

Knights

Text

Cart

No

£39.95

Sony

BudgetA/C

Knights

Financial

Cass

No

£14.95

Knights

Mail List

Addresses

Cass

No

£14.95

Knights

Mail Shot

Files

Cart

No

£99.00

Computer Mates

Marginator

Financial

Cass

No

£10.00

Office junior

Memo-Calc

Database

Cass

No

£14.95

Micro Aid

MST-Calc

Speadsheet

Cass

No

£12.95

MST

Partsearch

Stock

Cass

No

£100.0

Office junior

Payroll

Wages

Cart

No

£99.00

Computer Mates

Payroll

Spectra

Wages

Cass

No

£29.95

Micro Aid

Chequebook

Financial

Cass

No

£6.95

Spectravideo

Shoppastoppa

Retail

Cass

No

£100.0

Office junior

Spreadsheet

Spreadsheet

Cart

No

£49.00

Computer Mates

Stock Control

Stock

Cass

No

£34.95

Kemp,

T asword MSX

Text

Cass

No

£13.90

Tasman

Wdpro

Text

Cass

No

£29.95

Kuma

Word Processor

Text

Cart

No

£49.00

Computer Mates

VAT Cracker

Financial

Cass

No

£10.00

Office junior

UnUTIES

Title

Type

Joystick

Price

Supplier

Champ

Assembler

Cass

No

£12.95

PSS

Games Designer

Programming

Cass

Yes

£9.95

Quicksilva

Go-Sprite

Graphics

Cass

Yes

£9.95

Mirrorsoft

Hi soft Devpack

Ass/Disass

Cass

No

£19.95

Hisoft

Hisoft Pascal

Pascal

Cass

No

£29.95

Hisoft

Kuma Forth

Forth

Cass

No

£39.95

Kuma

Machine Code
Speech

Assembler

Cass

No

£5.95

Knights

Synthesizer
The Games

Voice

Cart

No

£69.50

Kuma

Creator

Programming

Cass

Yes

£12.95

Mirrorsoft

Tasprint MSX

Printing

Cass

No

£9.90

T asman

[Zen Assembler

Assembler

Cass

No

£19.95

Kuma

MISCEUANEOUS

Title

Type

Format

joystick

Price

Supplier

Address Book

Addresses

Cass

No

£6.95

Spectravideo

Communications

Viewdata

Cass

No

£19.95

Kuma

Home Budget

Financial

Cass

No

£14.95

Kuma

MSX Demonstrator

Demonstrator

Cass

No

£5.95

Knights

Music Mentor

Musical

Cass

Yes

£6.95

Spectravideo

Musiwriter

Musical

Cart

No

£19.95

Music Sales

Tiny Disk Drive MPlOO costs around £40 and uses 2.5ln disks

and store pictures using the
Graphpad pen.

Touchmaster are hoping to
launch a touch sensitive pad
together with a graphics pack-
age for £149 . 95 together with
a n MSX i nterface f or£16 by the
end of Spring.

They have educational and
games software planned, but
will wait to see where the
demand I ies before develop! ng
them.

LIGHTPEN

A lightpen is essentially a pen
with a light detector positioned
at the tip.

As yet Sanyo is the only MSX
company to have produced a
lightpen — the MLPOOl cost-
ing£89.95.

The pen is attached to a
cartridge which plugs into the
computers cartridge port. A
graphics package utilising a
15 colour palette is available
with the pen.

esizer, butattachestoany MSX
via a MIDI interface.

Yamaha’s keyboard, the
DX7, otherwise known as a
digital programmable algor-
ithm synthesizer retails at
£1,449.

Features include six sine
wave operators, six envelopes,
16-polyphonic notes, 23 prog-
rammable performance and
145 voice parameters. Two
plug-in cartridges contain 64
preprogrammed voices each
are available as accessories.

The DX7 will attach to any
synthesizer or MSX computer
with a MIDI interface.

MIDI, an acronym for Music-
al Instrument Digital Interface,
is the standard interface for
transmitting data from one
electronic music instrument to
either another one or to a
computer system.

JVC are currently developing
a MIDI for the MSX, but no
details are available yet.

COMNtUN'CATIONS

Computer Mates have a plug-
in communications cartridge
combining both word proces-
sing and database fad I ities for
£149.

It can be controlled using a
joystick and users can access
any electronic or viewdata ser-
vice.

Using a modem and an
RS232C card, Kuma’s com-
munications software costing
£19.95 can be used to access
electronic mail and viewdata
services.

80 COLUMN CARD

The 40 column display gener-
ated by some of the MSX’s can
be increased to 80 columns
with an 80 column card. One
advantage of this is that the
CP/M packages can be used.

Spectra video’s 80 column
video cartridge, the SVI-727
costs £112.79. The accom-
panying video cable slots into
the cartridge and the monitor.

INTERFACE BOARDS

JVC’s RS232C i nterface board ,
thelF7610shouldbeavailable
by April and will cost £89.

ROM software with extended
BASIC commands has been
built into the board for com-
munication purposes. A built-
in terminal emulator can be
accessed with BASIC com-
mands . It acts as a pri nter port.

Juma’s RS232C interface
board costs £99.50.

It provides independent
transmit and receive channels
including all standard hand
shaking signals and will con-
nect to printers.

Kuma also has a parallel
interface board for £59.50
which plugs into the cartridge
slot. Options provided are a
3x8 bit port with full hand-
shakes, a bit set and reset and
a 1x8 bit bi-directional port.

MSX-NET’s programmable
RS232C interface fits into the
cartridge slot and costs £50. It
will connect to modems, prin-
ters and robots.

GRAPHICS TABLETS

Also known as digitisers, these
together with relevant soft-
ware enables user to design
graphics, play games or even
program.

The Graph Pad from British
Micro comes with a graphics
package and costs £125. The
A4 pad can be used to design

MUSICAL

JVC’s keyboard, the KV600
costs £629.

Preprogrammed sounds in-
clude 14 basic stereo rhythms,
16 percussion instruments
and hasa melody memoryof up
to 300 notes.

The keyboard covers four
octaves and has built-in stereo
speakers, although the board
can be connected to ampli-
fiers. It will also attach to a
guitar strumboard (a stringless
instrument) costing £40.

The KV600 wi 1 1 operate inde-
pendently as a music synth-

SPEECH

SYNTHESIZERS

Strange robotic speech can be
created with speech synthesiz-
ersand mostusetheallophone
system.

Kuma’s package costs
£69.50 and consists of cas-
sette based software and a
card which plugs into the
cartridge slot. It uses 64
allophones.

Speakeasy from Aztec Soft-
ware utilises 64 allophones
and costs £29.95. It is a
separate unit and connects to
the MSX via the printer port.

ADDRESSES

Aztec Software: (0924)

492826

British Micro: (0923) 48222
Cambridge Micro Computer
Centre: (0223) 355404
Computer Mates: (0265)

810824

Doug Packer: 01-941 2560
JVC: 01-450 3282
Kuma Computers: (07357)
4335

Microlink: (0730) 895296
Micro Peripherals: (0256)

473232

MSX-Net: 01-788 3583
Sanyo Marubeni: (0923)

46363

Sony: (81) 61688
Spectravideo: 01-330 0101
Touchmaster: (0656) 744770
Yamaha-Kemble: (0908)

71771

STORAGE DEVICES

Disk drives run and store files
on floppy disks.

Microlink are distributing
the Quick disk drive for about
£130.

It holds 128K bytes of unfor-
matted memory and uses dou-
ble-sided double density 2.8
inch disks.

Sony’s disk drive, the HBD-
50 has 500K bytes of unfor-
matted memory and costs
£349.95.

It uses 3.5 inch floppy sing-
le-sided double density disks.

JVC are planning to produce
a disk drive with 500K bytes of
unformatted memory. It will
use single-sided double densi-
ty disks. A5. 5 inch disk version
is also planned.

The SVl-707, Spectra-
vldeo’s disk drive provides
500K bytes of unformatted
memory and uses 5.25 inch
double-sided double density
disks. It retails at £345.

Sony's battery-powered C/
MOS RAM 4K data cartridge
costing£39.95 offers an extra
4K of memory. Yamaha have a
data cartridge too, at £65 for
4K storage.

TheTiny Disk Drive MPlOO is
aval lable from the Cambridgo
Micro Computor Contro and

costs about £40. It uses 2.5
inch disks.

MEMORY

EXPANSION

ByaddingextraRAMtoanMSX,
more programs can be com-
piled. With a full 64K of RAM,
some of the more sophisti-
cated CP/M programs can be
run.

Spoctravidoo's 64K RAM

cartridge, the SVl-747 pro-
vides an additional 32K of
memory for £100.

PRINTER CABLES

To connect an MSX to a parallel
Centronics printer, you need a
printer cable with a 15-pin
amphenol (MSX pri nter socket)
to 36-pin amphenol (standard
Centronics printer connec-
tion). Micro Peripherals are
selling the 1.5 metre Canon
MSX Parallel printer cable for
£13.50.

Aztec’s Software MSX printer
cable costs £14.30. Doug
Packei^s cable retails at £15,
Spoctravidoo’s 1.5 metre
cable costs £15.95 and Boots
The Chemist are selling a 1
metre cable for £9.95.

Eric and the Floaters

Binary Land

Driller Tank

Fire Rescue

Hyper Viper

Database ZEN Assembler WDPRO Kuma FORTH Home Budget

An outstanding selection from Kumars rapidly expanding range of Entertainment

and Application Software for the MSX Micro-computer.

BOOKS # Starting with the MSX # The MSX Red Book # Starting Machine Code with the MSX
# Behind the Screens of the MSX.

ACCESSORIES # RS232C Interface
# Speech Synthesiser # Paraiiei Interface.

*NEW TITLES # Star Avenger # Superchess
# Stop the Express # Ninja # Mean Streets
0 Logo Turtle-graphics.

Now available from larger branches of

and selected branches of Co-op, Granada,

Kuma Computers Ltd., Unit 12, Horseshoe Park,
Horseshoe Road, Pangbourne, Berks RGB 7JW.

Please send full catalogue on MSX products.

Name ..
Address

Phone

I own a MSX Computer.

* Visitors wishing to call at our Pangbourne Manufacturing and
Distribution Centre are advised to phone 07357-4335 first for an
early appointment. Trade enquiries welcome.

.MMpiriHiarirr^B^^

T/iiffSi

"I'M fl TOSHIBA HXIO.
rOE GOT ALL THE
BEST BITS FROM EMERY
OTHER HOME COMPUTER.
AND- MORE . I HAME A
64K- tlEMOR-Y , LIKE THE
COMMODOte 64. A e*'>»
CASSETTE INTERFACE,
LIKE' the" BBC. TWO
JOYSTICK PORTS, LIKE
THE COMMODORE 64.

A BUILT IN POWER
SUPPLY, LIKE THE
BBC . 16' USABLE
COLOURS,* LIKE* THE »
ACORN ELECTRON.. OMER

70 fDLl stroke keys;;

LIKE^THE BBC. A
CARTRIDGE SLOT, LIKE
THE COMMODORE 64.

A PRINTER INTERFACE,

LIKE THE ORIC ATMOS.
SOUND OUTPUT THROUGH
THE, T.M.~. LIKE THE

CONNECTION, LIKE T'
THE COMMODORE 64 .
i i^F BUILT IN LIKE *
THE BBC. AND: A
SEPARATE 16K MI DEO
MEMORY, UNLIKE MOST
NON-MSX COMPUTERS.
32 SPRITES, MORE
TmN MOST NON-MSX
COf^PUTERS,. AND I USI
MICROSOFT>EXTENDED ’
BASIC, LIKE EMERY "
OTHER MSX COMPUTER.

WOW. WITH A “
SPEC I F I CAT I ON . L I ST«
L i KE THAT .

NO WONDER YOU' ME*

GOT A 64K MEMORY .

1

w *

You’d expect one of the best-selling
home computers in Japan to have a
specification list as big as its memory.

But the Toshiba HXIO doesn’t just
limit itself to that.

It was developed along with other
Japanese home computers to operate

on one language :MSX.You can swap prog
rams, games, cassettes, even peripherals
like disk drives, printers, and Joysticks:
they’re all compatible with every other
MSX computer.

All of which makes MSX the system
of the future.

So if you want a computer that won’t
be obsolete in a few years, buy an MSX.
If you want one of the best-selling MSX
computers in Japan, buy aToshiba HXIO.

TOSHIBA